along the border with Jordan, between the Judean Mountains and Moab plateau extends, perhaps, the most popular attraction of Israel - a unique large lake with a frightening name of the Dead Sea.Why is it so called, and why tourists from all over the world are eager to get on its shores, we explain later in this article.
Meet - Dead Sea
Standing on the shore of the pond, you can not take her eyes off him.The water surface is incredibly beautiful!Blue-green water, sometimes having a rich emerald color, the mountains, reflected in it, and the bright sun in the blue sky - all these can not be combined with a gloomy name of the place.
So why the Dead Sea is the name?Upon closer inspection, you'll find that on the shores of the reservoir, and in him there is no life.This is not the usual fish and arthropods, do not grow algae.However, in the water, there are some types of fungi and bacteria, but our ancestors did not know about this form of life, so called dead sea.
Lethality its waters can be explained by the fact that there is a very high percentage of salt content (300-350 ppm).If, for example, compare this figure with the Black Sea, here it reaches a total of 18 ppm, and in the Red - 41.
same salt concentration there are only two reservoirs of the Earth - on the lake Baskunchak, which is located in the Astrakhan region (about300 ppm), and a small Antarctic Lake Don Juan (402 ppm).
Why Dead Sea salt is and why it is so called
The size of this lake have considerable length - 67 km and width in some places reaches 18 km, it is obvious why it was called the sea.
From the north it feeds the Jordan River and some intermittent streams, but no river here does not take the start - it turns a kind of trap for water.As a result of this state of affairs, as well as intense evaporation over time in the water was the accumulation of various minerals and water has become very salty.
Sea, surrounded by salt
Many tourists want to personally see the Dead Sea.Why it is so called, visitors realize, coming closer to him and found that along the coast are islands turn white salt deposits, stones coastal cliffs covered with salt, and standing on the south-western shore of Sodom Mountain altogether entirely of her, just on top of itcovered with a dense gypsum crust.
way, these mountains are still growing because the underground pressure through the gap rises to the surface of the earth salt, which because of this becomes plastic.
But you understand that this is, of course, do not salt.It is composed of the same minerals that are dissolved in the waters of the ocean, but in an incredible concentration.Therefore, for most sentient beings Dead Sea deadly.
For example, fish that swims by chance from the Jordan River immediately killed in the brine, and the waves on the beach throwing her to the great joy of birds come here for the food.
The dangerous
Since ancient times, there is a legend that the Dead Sea brings death to anyone who tries to go with it or dip it in water.With the last statement is debatable, and that's why the Dead Sea is called the dead for those who floats in a boat, it is clear - the density of water due to the high salt concentration is such that pushes any object immersed in it, so the boat is likely to capsize.
But the man, who turned out in the water without sinking.Yes, in the Dead Sea you can lie on a quiet water surface and read a magazine, because the dense water does not dive into its thickness.By the way, here you can swim only at the back or side.Floated on my stomach does not work, the water will be hard to turn the swimmer back.
How else called
Arguing why the Dead Sea is called the dead, it is worth remembering that it also has other names.For example, it is called Asfalticheskim.This is due to the fact that the bottom of the lake asphalt extracted, and itself which is periodically raised to the water surface.It was used in the construction of ships, for tarred and for mummification.Last asphalt lump-ton rose from the bottom of the Dead Sea in the 60s of the last century.
In addition, this body of water is called the Sea of Lot, and Sodom.According to the Bible, it was formed on the site of the infamous city of Sodom, destroyed countless sins of its inhabitants rain of fire.Only one righteous man named Lot was able to escape in this terrible disaster.Incidentally, it was so hot believing Christians and Jews have not dipped into the water of the Dead Sea, and do not use cosmetics prepared from a salt thereof.About
mineral salts
We learned why the Dead Sea is called the dead, and now tell you about its use.It has accumulated over the millennia many unique minerals.They include chlorides of calcium, sodium, magnesium, as well as many bromides.This set of salt have a great feature - they are able to treat many skin diseases (especially psoriasis), improves blood circulation, relieves muscle tension and fight joint pathology.
Incidentally, the useful properties of the minerals discovered in ancient times.Not for nothing a bath with Dead Sea salts bath is called Cleopatra.
And the climate of the area, which lies far below sea level (-416 m), significantly enhances the healing effect on the human body.All this taken together attracted to the shores of miraculous sea-lake many tourists who want to improve their health.
few tips for travelers departing to the Dead Sea
why it is so called, is amazingly healing qualities, but still a dead sea, you can experience for yourself, if you do not take precautions and not to take into account local characteristics recreation.
to improve their health, and not to aggravate the problem, remember:
- water in the lake is very corrosive, so no need to bathe more than 15 minutes;
- Dead Sea water may be poisonous - do not swallow it, and you raised spray can get into your eyes and you and the other travelers, which threatens serious injury to the mucosa and painful consequences;
- if similar trouble does happen, be sure to rinse your eyes in the shower with fresh water, standing on the shore;
- vacation here, do not forget about excessive drinking, which does not allow your body to lose a lot of liquid when swimming in brine;
- be on a local beach for more than three hours is not safe for health;
- Dead Sea (why it is so called, the reader probably already clear) constantly retreats and leaves behind a shaky dirt, over which the crust is formed, the apparent distance hard, but if you step on it, you can sink into the black muck, and to avoidit is worth a walk along marked paths and swim only at beaches equipped.
way, metal objects before bathing to remove the better, because the water of the Dead Sea leads to corrosion of the metal.
Dead Sea could die!
nowadays think twice looking at the Dead Sea, why is it so called, it is not worth it.This unique piece of nature can be lost in the coming years.Researchers predict it no more than 80 years of existence, and then the sea will die for real.
The fact is that every year it is getting smaller by 1 meter, as in the surrounding area whether as a result of natural anomalies, whether as a result of human activity significantly reduced the level of groundwater, which led to the emergence of underground voids and gaps.So, you need to save a unique body of water, and hurry to visit him while he is still able to give their healing power!
