The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-04-15
DEAD SEA AS IT Is NOW.
A BODY OF WATER MADE FA.
NOUS BY BIBLICAL HISTORY.

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The Dead sea is about four miles
from Jericho. There is no road, there
are no bridges, but during the dry sea-
son wagon may cross the barren
plains almost anywhere, for 1t is like
the Bad Lands of Dakota. except that
the surface Is coated with salt and
gypsum instead of alkali. During the
rainy season 1t is impossible.
| The Dead sea occupies sink in
closed on three sides by precipitous
and barren mountains. On the Moab
shore they rise to the height of $500
feet, and the Jerusalem side to $500
feet, and touch the water in two
places, being cut by rocky gorges. The
Dead sea Is almost the shape and di-
mensions of Lake Geneva in Switzer-
land, being AZ miles in length and nine
and a half mides wide at the widest
part. Near the centre II is less than
two miles wide. At the northeast cor
ner, not far from the mouth of the
Jordan. soundings show a depth of 1910
feet. From there southwark the bot
tom shelves rapidly upward, and at
the southern extremity 1t is only eight
or IL feet deep. The mean depth Is
1880 feet. The variation in depth dur
Ing the year is often as much as 20
feet, according to the rainfall. The
normal level below that Of Mediterran-
can is 1899 feet, the total depth of the
depression below the level of the Med
iterranean Us 1908 feet. Jerusalem Is
2i9i feet above the Mediterranean and
1886 feet above tho Dead sea.
Scientific observation justifles the
estimate that a daily average of $780,
300 tons Of water Is received into the
sea from the Jordan and other sources
during the year. During the rainy
season the amount is very much great
| er; during the dry season, 1t is, of
,ouse, very much less, but this average
will be maintained year after year.
There is no outlet, and the level Is kept
down by evaporation only, which is
very rapid because of the intense heat,
the dry atmosphere and the dry winds
which are constantly blowing down
from the gorges between the noun
tains. This evaporation causes haze
or mist to hang over the lake at all
times, and when it is more rapid than
usual heavy clouds form and thunder
storms sometimes rage with great vio-
lence in the pocket between the cliffs.
even in the dry season. A flood of
rain often falls upon the surface of the
sea when the sun Is shining and the
atmosphere is as dry as a bone half
a mile from the shore. The mountains
around the Dead sea are rarely seen
with distinctness because of this haze.
The waters of the Jordan when they
reach the sea are as brown as the
earth through which they how-a
thick solution of mud-but the instant
they mingle with the salt water of the
lake the particles of soil are precipi-
tated and they become as clear as crys-
tai, with an intensely green tint. Car
rying so much soil and having so swift
A current, one would suppose that the
sea would be discolored for a consider
able distance, but 1t is not so. The
liscoloration is remarkably slight The
Jordan has quite a delta at its mouth,
breaking into number of streams and
frequently changing its course because
Of the distractions brought down by its
own current.
All the streams which feed the Dead
sea are more or less impregnant with
sodium, sulphur and other chemicals.
hence the water contains an unusual
quantity, at least 26 percent of solid
substance. Seven percent of this is
common salt, percent is chloride of
magnesium, which gives the water its
nauseous and bitter taste, and per-
cent Is chloride of calcium, which
makes 1t feel smooth and oily to the
touch. There are several other ingre-
dents in smaller quantities. The wa
ter coils at 221 degrees Fahrenheit Its
specific gravity varies from 1927
where 1t receives the discharge of
fresh water from the Jordan, to 1.256
at the southern part, near ledge of
rock salt. Salt has been collected and
sold in the neighboring cities from
the earliest times, and is considered
particularly strong.
At the bottom of the lake are large
beds of asphalt, and the surrounding
soil is rich in bituminous matter.
Small Jumps of bitumen, which is SOL
ldified petroleum, frequently float upon
the surface, and may be picked Up
among the gravel on the shores. At
the southeast corner Is ridge of pure
rock salt five miles long and 300 feet
high. A pillar that rises beside it is
pointed out to tourists as the remains
of Lots wife. This deposit of fossil
salt is said to contain higher per-
centage of chloride Of sodium than is
found elsewhere. The bottom of the
lake in that vicinity is covered with
large crystals so hard as to defy solu-
tion except in boiling water
The water OF the Dead sea is very
nauseous. No stomach is strong
enough to retain it. 1t is sticky to the
touch. and, when dried, leaves a coat
Ing OF salt and other chemicals upon
the flesh of bathers. But il Is beauti-