Dead sea water temperature: Current water temp in dead sea 0 0 The Dead Sea, otherwise known as the Salt Sea, is a lake which borders Jordan and Israel and at 432 meters below sea level is the lowest place on Earth. It also contains one of the highest amounts of salt in any body of water in the world with nearly nine times as much salt as in an ocean. Consequently life in the Dead Sea cannot survive which affords it its name. Dead Sea current water temperature is: 65°F This water temperature is warm enough for water sports It is possible to visit the Dead Sea as a day trip from Eilat, Tel Aviv or Jerusalem if you are staying in Israel. A bicycle ride along Highway 90 from Jerusalem is a pleasant scenic route or alternatively Israeli bus company Egged run daily services from Eilat (line 444), Tel Aviv (line 421), Jerusalem (lines 486 and 487) and Beersheva and Arad (line 384). Taxi services also provide access to the lake. 14 Days Weather Forecast for the Dead Sea 17.

January Lowest Point on Earth - Universe Today Universe Today by Fraser Cain The lowest point on land is the Dead Sea that borders Israel, the West Bank and Jordan. It’s 420 meters below sea level. The Dead Sea sits on top of the Dead Sea Rift, a tectonic fault line between the Arabian and the African plates. The movement of these plates causes the Dead Sea to sink about one meter per year! The Dead Sea used to be connected to the Mediterranean Ocean, but over a geologic time scale, it became cut off and evaporation concentrated the salt in the water so that today, the Dead Sea is 30 to 31 percent mineral salts. It has the highest level of salinity of any body of water in the world. Just a side note, I’ve had a chance to swim in the dead sea, and it’s one of the strangest experiences I’ve ever had. The lowest point on land in the Western Hemisphere is Death Valley in California at 86 meters below sea level. The lowest point on the Earth’s crust is the Mariana’s Trench in the North Pacific Ocean. It is 11 kilometers deep.

Like many of Earth’s extremes, the Mariana’s Trench is caused by the Pacific tectonic plate subducting beneath the Philippine plate; this means that the Pacific Plate is sliding underneath the Philippine plate. The point where the Philippine plate overlaps is Mariana’s Trench. Share this: Dead Sea | Define Dead Sea at Dictionary.com Dead Sea noun 1. a salt lake between Israel and Jordan: the lowest lake in the world. 46 miles (74 km) long; 10 miles (16 km) wide; 1293 feet (394 meters) below sea level. Dictionary.com Unabridged Examples from the Web for Dead Sea Expand Contemporary Examples The Kidron Valley wends its way from the eastern side of the Old City, through the Judean Desert, to the Dead Sea. Who Was Jesus, Anyway? Jay Parini November 30, 2013 Historical Examples Mr. Forbes, poor Hands's assistant, is away on the shores of the Dead Sea, but we have sent for him by the camel garrison post. The Bible Story Rev. Newton Marshall Hall British Dictionary definitions for Dead Sea Expand noun 1.

a lake between Israel, Jordan, and the West Bank, now 420 m (1378 ft) below sea level; originally 390 m (1285 ft): the lowest lake in the world, with no outlet and very high salinity; outline, esp at the southern end, reduced considerably in recent years. Area: originally about 950 sq km (365 sq miles); by 2003 about 625 sq km (240 sq miles) Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for Dead Sea Expand mid-13c., from dead (adj.) + sea ; its water is 26 percent salt (as opposed to 3 or 4 percent in most oceans) and supports practically no life.

In the Bible it was the "Salt Sea" (Hebrew yam hammelah), also "Sea of the Plain" and "East Sea." In Arabic it is al-bahr al-mayyit "Dead Sea." The ancient Greeks knew it as he Thalassa asphaltites "the Asphaltite Sea." Latin Mare Mortum, Greek he nekra thalassa (both "The Dead Sea") referred to the sea at the northern boundaries of Europe, the Arctic Ocean. Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper Dead Sea definition Salt lake on the border between Israel and Jordan . Note: Its shore, at approximately thirteen hundred feet below sea level, is the lowest point of dry land on Earth . The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Dead Sea in the Bible Expand the name given by Greek writers of the second century to that inland sea called in Scripture the "salt sea" (Gen. 14:3; Num. 34:12), the "sea of the plain" (Deut.

3:17), the "east sea" (Ezek. 47:18; Joel 2:20), and simply "the sea" (Ezek. 47:8). The Arabs call it Bahr Lut, i.e., the Sea of Lot. It lies about 16 miles in a straight line to the east of Jerusalem. Its surface is 1,292 feet below the surface of the Mediterranean Sea. It covers an area of about 300 square miles. Its depth varies from 1,310 to 11 feet. From various phenomena that have been observed, its bottom appears to be still subsiding. It is about 53 miles long, and of an average breadth of 10 miles. It has no outlet, the great heat of that region causing such rapid evaporation that its average depth, notwithstanding the rivers that run into it (see JORDAN ØT0002112), is maintained with little variation. The Jordan alone discharges into it no less than six million tons of water every twenty-four hours. The waters of the Dead Sea contain 24.6 per cent.

of mineral salts, about seven times as much as in ordinary sea-water; thus they are unusually buoyant. Chloride of magnesium is most abundant; next to that chloride of sodium (common salt). But terraces of alluvial deposits in the deep valley of the Jordan show that formerly one great lake extended from the Waters of Merom to the foot of the watershed in the Arabah. The waters were then about 1,400 feet above the present level of the Dead Sea, or slightly above that of the Mediterranean, and at that time were much less salt. Nothing living can exist in this sea. "The fish carried down by the Jordan at once die, nor can even mussels or corals live in it; but it is a fable that no bird can fly over it, or that there are no living creatures on its banks. Dr. Tristram found on the shores three kinds of kingfishers, gulls, ducks, and grebes, which he says live on the fish which enter the sea in shoals, and presently die. He collected one hundred and eighteen species of birds, some new to science, on the shores, or swimming or flying over the waters.

The cane-brakes which fringe it at some parts are the homes of about forty species of mammalia, several of them animals unknown in England; and innumerable tropical or semi-tropical plants perfume the atmosphere wherever fresh water can reach. The climate is perfect and most delicious, and indeed there is perhaps no place in the world where a sanatorium could be established with so much prospect of benefit as at Ain Jidi (Engedi).", Geikie's Hours, etc. Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary sea level - National Geographic Society sea level Although these bungalows are perched just above sea level, Bora Bora, French Polynesia, actually has a mountain that rises 727 meters (2,385 feet) higher. Photograph by Greg Goin, MyShot Highs and Lows Straddling the border between Israel and Jordan, the Dead Sea is the lowest place on the Earth's surface. Its elevation is 400 meters (1,312 feet) below sea level. However, if depth were measured from the ocean floor, the Challenger Deep in the Pacific Ocean would be the lowest place on Earth.

It measures 11,034 meters (36,200 feet) below sea level. Conversely, the top of Mt. Everest in the Himalaya Mountains is the point with the highest elevation on Earth, at 8,848 meters (29,028 feet) above sea level. However, if elevation were measured from the floor of the ocean, the peak of the volcano Mauna Kea, in the U.S. state of Hawaii, would be higher than Everest. Mauna Kea stands 10,203 meters (33,476 feet) high when measured from the ocean floor, but rises only 4,207 meters (13,803 feet) above sea level. Sea level is the base level for measuring elevation and depth on Earth . Because the ocean is one continuous body of water, its surface tends to seek the same level throughout the world. However, wind s, current s, river discharge s, and variations in gravity and temperature prevent the sea surface from being truly level. So that the surface of the ocean can be used as a base for measuring elevations, the concept of " local mean sea level " has been developed.

In the United States and its territories, local mean sea level is determined by taking hourly measurements of sea levels over a period of 19 years at various locations, and then averaging all of the measurements. The 19-year period is called a Metonic cycle . It enables scientists to account for the long-term variation s in the moon 's orbit . It also averages out the effects of local weather and oceanographic conditions. Sea level is measured in relation to the adjacent land. Just like the ocean, the elevation of land may rise and fall over time. For example, the tremendous weight of a glacier on land pushes the land down, closer to sea level. That same land bounces back (a process called post-glacial rebound ) if the ice retreats, or melts, and its weight is removed. Local mean sea level measurements are a combination of sea level variations and movement of the land. Changes in Sea Level Sea level may vary with changes in climate . During past ice age s, sea level was much lower because the climate was colder and more water was frozen in glaciers and ice sheet s.

At the peak of the most recent ice age, about 18,000 years ago, sea level was perhaps 100 meters (300 feet) lower than it is today. Global warming , the current period of climate change on Earth, is causing glaciers and ice sheets to melt. Melting ice sheets cause an elevation in sea level. This phenomenon is called sea level rise . Sea level rise threatens low-lying areas around the world. Island nation s, such as Maldives and Comoros, are particularly at risk. Coastal cities, such as New York City, New York, and Mumbai, India, must also prepare for higher sea levels. Term (singular: bacterium) single-celled organisms found in every ecosystem on Earth. border Dead Sea Noun body of water on the border between Israel and Jordan; the lowest point within land (400 meters, or 1,312 feet, below sea level). dense having parts or molecules that are packed closely together. depth measure of how deep something is. discharge to eject or get rid of. Earth Noun our planet, the third from the Sun. The Earth is the only place in the known universe that supports life.

physical force by which objects attract, or pull toward, each other. ice age Noun long period of cold climate where glaciers cover large parts of the Earth. The last ice age peaked about 20,000 years ago. Also called glacial age. ice sheet local mean sea level Noun average height of the ocean's surface at a specific place, measured over a certain period of time. measurement process of determining length, width, mass (weight), volume, distance or some other quality or size. Metonic cycle Noun 19-year period after which the Moon's phases occur on the same days of the year as in the preceding cycle. Scientists measure sea levels using the Metonic cycle. Moon Mount Everest Noun highest spot on Earth, 8,850 meters (29,035 feet). Mount Everest is part of the Himalaya range, in Nepal and China. nation path of one object around a more massive object. phenomenon an unusual act or occurrence. post-glacial rebound process in which land that was crushed by a glacier regains its shape. river sea level Noun sea level rise Noun increase in the average reach of the ocean.

The current sea level rise is 1.8 millimeters (.07 inch) per year. temperature volcano Noun an opening in the Earth's crust, through which lava, ash, and gases erupt, and also the cone built by eruptions. Lion Tracks Photo QnA -- The Dead Sea bordering Israel and Jordan. The Salt Sea, Eastern Sea, or Lake Asphaltitus. The Salt Sea, Eastern Sea, or Lake Asphaltitus Click on map for larger view The Dead Sea could more properly be described as a large salt lake at the south of the Jordan River below the Sea of Galilee . It does not appear to have been called "the Dead Sea" until more than a century after the time of Christ. In the Old Testament it is referred to as "the Salt Sea", "the Sea of the Arabah", and "the Eastern Sea". While the New Testament does not contain any mention of it, the first century historian Josephus speaks of it under the name "Lake Asphaltitus". The Arabic name "Bahr Lilt" means "Sea of Lot" showing their historic recognition of the events surrounding Lot's life and the cities of the plain .

The earliest scriptural reference to the Dead Sea is found in Genesis, where the text references it as the Salt Sea. Specifically the valley extending along the Dead Sea, between the water and the five infamous cities on its central to south eastern side, is the stated location of a battle. Genesis 14:3 All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (the Salt Sea). (NIV) Genesis 13:10 suggests that the valley and plain region surrounding the Dead Sea was much more fertile in the time prior to the Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Certainly, following God's judgment on these cities, the land became desolate - sometime that is generally still true to this day even though modern technologies are being used for limited irrigation in a few places. See our article on the five cities of the plain for more details regarding the Dead Sea region at that time, plus a number of photos of the Dead Sea today. A view from the Jordanian side on the southern part of the northern basin The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth, approximately 1400 feet (427 meters) below sea level.

The level of the Sea has fluctuated widely throughout history, the greatest decline ever being in the last few decades. (For this reason, relatively modern sources will quote the Sea as being up to 120 feet, or 37 meters, higher than the approximate level we cited). The Sea is approximately 50 miles (80 km) in length, having a maximum width of about 10 miles (16 kilometers). It is divided into northern and southern sections by a promontory known as the el-Lisan (meaning "the tongue") which virtually divides the sea when the water is at the low levels of today. The northern basin is much deeper than the smaller southern basin (about 25% of the lake) which is 30 feet (9 meters) or less in depth. In fact, currently, if it was not because of water pumped from the northern basin, the southern would likely be completely dried up. The Dead Sea, as a whole, is at its lowest level in history and is in danger of being depleted. Jordan and Israel are actively discussing a project to re-flood the Dead Sea either from the Red Sea or the Mediterranean. The primary source of water for the Dead Sea was once the Jordan River.

Additional water came from sources such as Wadi Kerak, the Arnon, the Zered, springs at En-Gedi, Qumran, and the thermal springs Callirhoe. Occasional floods from winter rains also contribute, but the region is very dry averaging less than 2 inches (5 centimeters) per year. Today, most fresh water from the wadis, rivers, and springs has been diverted for irrigation and drinking purposes. Even the Jordan is barely a shadow of its former volume as it enters the Dead Sea. See our article on En Gedi for more details on this important ancient Dead Sea area. The Dead Sea historically was used as a distinctive boundary marker, even as today it divides the modern countries of Jordan and Israel. Consider these passages from the time of the exodus out of Egypt and the division of the land to the tribes. Numbers 34:1-3 The Lord said to Moses, 2 "Command the Israelites and say to them: 'When you enter Canaan, the land that will be allotted to you as an inheritance will have these boundaries: 3 "'Your southern side will include some of the Desert of Zin along the border of Edom.

On the east, your southern boundary will start from the end of the Salt Sea (NIV, see also verse 12) Deuteronomy 3:16-17 But to the Reubenites and the Gadites I gave the territory extending from Gilead down to the Arnon Gorge (the middle of the gorge being the border) and out to the Jabbok River, which is the border of the Ammonites. 17 Its western border was the Jordan in the Arabah, from Kinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea), below the slopes of Pisgah. (NIV) Joshua 3:15-17 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.

17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground. (NIV) Joshua 12:2-3 Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge - from the middle of the gorge - to the Jabbok River, which is the border of the Ammonites. This included half of Gilead. 3 He also ruled over the eastern Arabah from the Sea of Kinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea), to Beth Jeshimoth, and then southward below the slopes of Pisgah. (NIV) Joshua 15:1-5b The allotment for the tribe of Judah, clan by clan, extended down to the territory of Edom, to the Desert of Zin in the extreme south. 2 Their southern boundary started from the bay at the southern end of the Salt Sea, 3 crossed south of Scorpion Pass, continued on to Zin and went over to the south of Kadesh Barnea.

Then it ran past Hezron up to Addar and curved around to Karka. 4 It then passed along to Azmon and joined the Wadi of Egypt, ending at the sea. This is their southern boundary. 5 The eastern boundary is the Salt Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan. (NIV, also see Joshua 18:11-20 for Benjamin's borders which touched the Salt Sea). Deuteronomy 3:16-17 But to the Reubenites and the Gadites I gave the territory extending from Gilead down to the Arnon Gorge (the middle of the gorge being the border) and out to the Jabbok River, which is the border of the Ammonites. 17 Its western border was the Jordan in the Arabah, from Kinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea), below the slopes of Pisgah. (NIV, see also Deuteronomy 4:49) Much later, the prophets Ezekiel and Joel refer to the Dead Sea as the Eastern Sea, in the case of Joel it is in contrast to the Mediterranean which calls the Western Sea. These too are given as geographical boundaries.

Ezekiel 47:18 "On the east side the boundary will run between Hauran and Damascus, along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel, to the eastern sea and as far as Tamar. This will be the east boundary. (NIV) Joel 2:20 'I will drive the northern army far from you, pushing it into a parched and barren land, with its front columns going into the eastern sea and those in the rear into the western sea. (NIV) A view from the Jordanian side on the southern part of the northern basin. Notice the salt buildup as the water has receded. Everything under the water is encrusted in salt. The Dead Sea is not directly mentioned in the New Testament, though it certainly had economic and strategic importance at that time. During the Roman period it appears that the Sea was also at a low level as there are traces of a Roman road that was built across the el-Lisan peninsula. The description of Josephus, written in the immediate post biblical period, is worth considering, though most scholars find his dimensions suspect (and may not include both basins). The nature of the lake Asphaltitis is also worth describing.

It is, as I have said already, bitter and unfruitful. It is so light [or thick] that it bears up the heaviest things that are thrown into it; nor is it easy for any one to make things sink therein to the bottom, if he had a mind so to do. Accordingly, when Vespasian went to see it, he commanded that some who could not swim should have their hands tied behind them, and be thrown into the deep, when it so happened that they all swam as if a wind had forced them upwards. Moreover, the change of the color of this lake is wonderful, for it changes its appearance thrice every day; and as the rays of the sun fall differently upon it, the light is variously reflected.

However, it casts up black clods of bitumen in many parts of it; these swim at the top of the water, and resemble both in shape and bigness headless bulls; and when the laborers that belong to the lake come to it, and catch hold of it as it hangs together, they draw it into their ships; but when the ship is full, it is not easy to cut off the rest, for it is so tenacious as to make the ship hang upon its clods till they set it loose with the menstrual blood of women, and with urine, to which alone it yields. This bitumen is not only useful for the caulking of ships, but for the cure of men's bodies; accordingly, it is mixed in a great many medicines. The length of this lake is five hundred and eighty furlongs, where it is extended as far as Zoar in Arabia; and its breadth is a hundred and fifty. The country of Sodom borders upon it. It was of old a most happy land, both for the fruits it bore and the riches of its cities, although it be now all burnt up.

It is related how, for the impiety of its inhabitants, it was burnt by lightning; in consequence of which there are still the remainders of that Divine fire, and the traces [or shadows] of the five cities are still to be seen, as well as the ashes growing in their fruits; which fruits have a color as if they were fit to be eaten, but if you pluck them with your hands, they dissolve into smoke and ashes. And thus what is related of this land of Sodom hath these marks of credibility which our very sight affords us. (Josephus: Wars of the Jews 4.8.4) Fragments of the works of the early church father Sextus Julius Africanus provide more detail about the Dead Sea from the early third century.

Africanus, who called himself a native of Jerusalem and later lived at Emmaus, in his Chronography (History of the World, written circa 221 A.D.), chapter 9, wrote: In Canaan, Abraham's shepherds and Lot's contended with each other; and with mutual consent they separated, Lot choosing to dwell in Sodom on account of the fertility and beauty of the land, which had five cities, Sodom, Gomorrah, Adama, Seboim, Segor, and as many kings. On these their neighbors the four Syrian kings made war, whose leader was Chodollogomo king of Aelam. And they met by the Salt Sea, which is now called the Dead Sea. In it I have seen very many wonderful things. For that water sustains no living thing, and dead bodies are carried beneath its depths, while the living do not readily even dip under it. Lighted torches are borne upon it, but when extinguished they sink. And there are the springs of bitumen; and it yields alum and salt a little different from the common kinds, for they are pungent and transparent.

And wherever fruit is found about it, it is found full of a thick, foul smoke. And the water acts as a cure to those who use it, and it is drained in a manner contrary to any other water. And if it had not the river Jordan feeding it like a shell, and to a great extent withstanding its tendency, it would have failed more rapidly than appears. There is also by it a great quantity of the balsam plant; but it is supposed to have been destroyed by God on account of the impiety of the neighboring people. (from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 6, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.) A few hundred years later, circa 527-565 A.D, the Madaba map shows the Dead Sea, complete with a fishing boat. Though nothing could live in the Dead Sea because of its' salt levels, fish often came into the Dead Sea from the Jordan (and perhaps other tributaries), subsequently died and were fished out as they floated to the top. This practiced continued into modern times until water levels and diversion of water made it impossible.

The Madaba mosaic map. Click on map for closer view or for more details on Madaba overall click here . The period of the Muslim conquests in the 7th century also saw an increase in precipitation and a decrease in irrigation, both leading to an overall expansion of the Dead Sea - notwithstanding periodic fluctuations - that lasted into this past century. The salinity of the water has been increasing with the modern decline of the Dead Sea, estimates range from 25% to 33%. Contrast this to the oceans of the world which range from 4% to 6%. The southern basin has a higher evaporation rate so it tends to be saltier, as are samples taken from a greater depth (below 130 ft/40 meters) in the northern basin where the water is highly saturated. Numerous minerals are also found in the water including: potassium, magnesium, gold and bromide salts; some of which are currently being harvested by both Jordan and Israel (notably potash). The Dead Sea even in ancient times was known for its medicinal and health properties. Today, besides local health spas and mud baths, a host of health and beauty products are manufactured from Dead Sea materials on both sides of the Sea.

As a final note, to answer some commonly asked questions, the water feels oily to the touch, yet leaves a crust of salt on your skin as it dries. Swimming is functionally impossible in the water as its buoyancy suspends you at the surface. In fact, in the northern basin, I have actually stood upright in the water without touching the bottom, suspended with my shoulder and most of my upper arms completely out of the water. Having taken an accidental drink of water in the southern basin, I can assure you that you shouldn't. The water is disgusting, if not nauseating in its taste; one not readily removed from your mouth even with repeated rinsing of fresh water. Josh and Melanie Duncan of Lion Tracks demonstrating the buoyant properties of the Dead Sea (c) 2008 Brent MacDonald/LTM. Masada and Dead Sea Tour - Tourist Israel Masada and Dead Sea Tour Masada and Dead Sea Tour Our Masada and Dead Sea Tour from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv will take you to two of Israel’s most impressive highlights.

Your experienced tour guide, an expert story-teller, will bring to life the Available every day from $104 per Person Starts in Tel Aviv & Jerusalem no hidden fees Our Masada and Dead Sea Tour from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv will take you to two of Israel’s most impressive highlights. Your experienced tour guide, an expert story-teller, will bring to life the magic of Masada, a fortress with an incredible history built atop a plateau overlooking the Dead Sea where you’ll spend the morning. You will take a cable car to the top where you will explore the ancient ruins. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Dead Sea. Not only is the Dead Sea the lowest point on earth, but it’s waters in which you float, are famous also for their healing properties and the muds are bottled and sold around the world. Ending your tour of Masada and the Dead Sea, you’ll have had a day of memories. **** “The Masada and Dead Sea Tour was really great! Our guide was flexible, nice, and always had useful advice. Masada is nothing more than gorgeous! Many, many thanks!” -Raphael, France **** “The trip to Masada was great!

“Ossi” did a superb job as a tour guide.” -Mary, USA **** Masada and Dead Sea Tour Highlights The Masada and Dead Sea Tour begins with pickup from hotels in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Herzliya, and Netanya Drive through the Judean Desert to the fortress of Masada, an iconic site in Jewish and Israeli history, this fortress is a symbol of heroism. Enter the National Park and ascend Masada via the cable car. Enjoy a fully guided tour through the ruins of King Herod’s palace imagining life here thousands of years ago. Float in the Dead Sea at a private beach. Experience the therapeutic waters of this saline lake, bathe in the mineral-rich mud, and look around, it’s all sandy desert.

Return to your hotel 07:15 – Pick-up from Tel Aviv Hotels 08:20 – Pick-up from Jerusalem Hotels 10:00 – Arrive at Masada and enjoy a fully guided tour of the ruins 13:00 – Arrive at Private Dead Sea Beach and spend a few hours floating in the water 17:00 – Drop-off at Jerusalem hotels 18:00 – Drop-off at Tel Aviv hotels NB – all timings are approximate languages This is a group tour but can be customized and taken privately for families or groups. click here to request a private tour price quote More Information about Masada and the Dead Sea Tour: Masada's history is a story which you will become well accustomed with on our Masada Tour, one about being the last Jewish stronghold against the Romans. The only information documented about Masada comes from the historian Josephus Flavius. Masada was built by Herod the Great between 37 and 31 BCE. The rest of the triumphs and defeats involving Masada will be detailed by your tour guide. In order to get to the top of Masada, visitors will take a cable car.

From there, your tour will take you to explore the ruins of the palace with your knowledgable guide. The Dead Sea borders Israel, Jordan and the West Bank. It is a salt lake that sits 400 meters below sea level. It was one of the world's first health resorts and people still boast about its healing properties. Today, the salt minerals from the Dead Sea are used in creams, lotions and makeup. As part of the Masada and Dead Sea Tour, you will have the opportunity to float the afternoon away in the salty waters. terms and conditions Daily Bible Study - The Salt Sea In History And Prophecy The Salt Sea In History And Prophecy See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan The Dead Sea (as it is today known; the term is not used in the King James Version) is a large inland body of salt water that measures about 80 kilometers / 50 miles long and 16 kilometers / 10 miles wide. It is located about 19 kilometers / 12 miles east of Jerusalem. In Bible History , it is variously known as the Salt Sea, the Sea of the Plain, or the Eastern Sea.

It today forms part of the international boundary between Israel and the Kingdom of Jordan. The surface of the Dead Sea is 393 meters / 1,290 feet below the sea-level surface of the Mediterranean Sea, which is only about 80 kilometers / 50 miles to the west. The depth of the Dead Sea ranges from only 3 meters / 10 feet to an abysmal 396 meters / 1,300 feet. Although its primary source is the freshwater Jordan River that flows into the Dead Sea on its northern shore, the Dead Sea has no outlet, while the extremely high rate of evaporation from the heat of its wide-open, below sea level, desert location causes a high evaporation rate that removes water while leaving behind the salt and other minerals that are naturally found in fresh water. The result is that the "Salt Sea" has a very high salt level - about 5 times that of ocean water.

The first Biblical mention of the Salt Sea is in Genesis, "in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea." "14:1 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations; 14:2 That these made war with Bera king of Sodom [see also Abraham And The King Of Sodom ], and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar. 14:3 All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea." (Genesis 14:1-3 KJV) The LORD (see 'Before Abraham Was, I AM' to understand Who "the LORD God" actually was - and is) declared the Salt Sea to be one of the boundaries of the land of Israel.

"34:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses [see The Prophets: Moses ], saying, 34:2 Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land of Canaan; this is the land that shall fall unto you for an inheritance, even the land of Canaan with the coasts thereof: 34:3 Then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the coast of Edom, and your south border shall be the outmost coast of the salt sea eastward: 34:4 And your border shall turn from the south to the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass on to Zin: and the going forth thereof shall be from the south to Kadeshbarnea, and shall go on to Hazaraddar, and pass on to Azmon: 34:5 And the border shall fetch a compass from Azmon unto the river of Egypt, and the goings out of it shall be at the sea. 34:6 And as for the western border, ye shall even have the great sea for a border: this shall be your west border.

34:7 And this shall be your north border: from the great sea ye shall point out for you mount Hor: 34:8 From mount Hor ye shall point out your border unto the entrance of Hamath; and the goings forth of the border shall be to Zedad: 34:9 And the border shall go on to Ziphron, and the goings out of it shall be at Hazarenan: this shall be your north border.

34:10 And ye shall point out your east border from Hazarenan to Shepham: 34:11 And the coast shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain; and the border shall descend, and shall reach unto the side of the sea of Chinnereth eastward: 34:12 And the border shall go down to Jordan, and the goings out of it shall be at the salt sea: this shall be your land with the coasts thereof round about." (Numbers 34:1-12 KJV) "Living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea" Although the flow of the Jordan River was high at the time ("for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest"), the river was stopped upstream to permit the Israelites to cross the Jordan into the promised land (see Milk and Honey ) on dry ground. The flow of the Jordan into the Dead Sea, which was just south of where the Israelites crossed the river, was also stopped at that time.

"3:15 And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest, 3:16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. 3:17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD [see also Christ's Mercy Seat ] stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan." (Joshua 3:15-17 KJV) The future of the Dead Sea is destined to be much brighter and productive, although some areas of salt will remain for useful purpose.

Speaking of "the river of living waters" that will flow to both the Dead and Mediterranean Seas from Jerusalem after the return of Jesus Christ: "14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south ... 14:8 And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea [RSV "the eastern sea" i.e. the Dead/Salt Sea], and half of them toward the hinder sea [RSV "the western sea" i.e. the Mediterranean Sea]: in summer and in winter shall it be.

14:9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one." (Zechariah 14:4,8-9 KJV) "47:1 Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house [see also Moriah: Separating The Wheat From The Chaff ]; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. 47:2 Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side. 47:3 And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. 47:4 Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees.

Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. 47:5 Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over. 47:6 And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river. 47:7 Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. 47:8 Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. 47:9 And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.

47:10 And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many. 47:11 But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt. 47:12 And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine." (Ezekiel 47:1-12 KJV) Fact Finder: What will the world be like when the fresh water flows?

The Spirit World This Day In History, July 21 356 BC: The original Temple of Artemis (also known as the Temple of Diana) in Ephesus, one of the "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World" (it took 120 years to build it) was destroyed by arson. The idol-worshiping Temple was rebuilt and is recorded in the New Testament (see The Riot At Ephesus ). 365: An earthquake at Crete caused a tsunami in the Mediterranean Sea that struck Alexandria, Egypt. It killed over 5,000 people in the city and 50,000 more in the surrounding area. 1403: Henry IV defeated rebel forces at the Battle of Shrewsbury in England. 1542: In an increasing fight against Protestantism, Pope Paul III set up an "Inquisition." 1588: The first of 3 battles of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada (warships and thousands of European marines) that had been sent by the Papacy to invade England.

1667: The Peace of Breda ended the Second Anglo-Dutch War (1664-1667) and ceded Dutch New Amsterdam (today known as New York City) to the English. 1711: Russia and Turkey signed the Treaty of Pruth, ending the year-long Russo-Turkish War of 1711. 1773: Clement XIV issued his Dominus ac redemptor noster which officially dissolved the so-called "Society of Jesus" (the Jesuits). 1774: The Russo-Turkish War of 1768-1774 ended with the signing of the Treaty of Kuchuk-Kainarji between Russia and the Ottoman Empire (listen to our Sermon The Ottoman Empire ). 1798: The "Battle of the Pyramids" took place in Egypt. The Mameluke army attempted to block Napoleon's march on Cairo but were repulsed and eventually driven into the Nile River, where many were drowned. 1831: Belgium gained independence from the Netherlands. Leopold of Saxe-Coburg (in Germany) was elected the first king of the Belgians.

1904: The 4,607 mile / 7,468 kilometer Trans-Siberian railway was completed after 13 years of construction. 1925: The "Scopes monkey trial" ended in Dayton, Tennessee when John Scopes was found guilty and fined $100.00 for teaching Darwin's theory of evolution in violation of a Tennessee statute enacted earlier in the year. Scopes' conviction was later overturned (listen to our Sermon Darwin's Theory of Evolution ). 1954: The French signed an armistice with the Viet Minh that ended their war but divided the Vietnamese people into two countries. The result was a Vietnam civil war between the north and the south that the U.S. later involved itself in after the French withdrew from the divided Vietnam that they created. 1969: Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin lifted off from the surface of the moon, successfully completing the first manned lunar landing (the Russians were the first to make a successful unmanned lunar landing; first, a series of intentional crash landings beginning in 1959, then a controlled landing in 1966 from which scientific instruments transmitted data and video back to earth).

1970: Construction of the Aswan High Dam in Egypt was completed after 11 years. 1983: Martial law was lifted in Poland. It had been imposed in December 1981 by the communist government in a crackdown against Solidarity labor union. 1983: The lowest temperature ever recorded occurred at Vostok Station, Antarctica: -89.2 degrees Celsius / -128 degrees Fahrenheit. 1998: Alan Shepherd died at age 74. Shepherd was the first U.S. astronaut in space (a Russian was the first human in space) and the 5th man to walk on the moon. editionDBSx201503et Israel Climate Change Impact: 5 Impacts to Dead Sea Blamed on Climate Change Israel Climate Change Impact: 5 Impacts to Dead Sea Blamed on Climate Change By Leland Gordon | Saturday, 07 Nov 2015 07:32 PM Close A A Climate change has the ability to alter what humans are used to when it comes to the Dead Sea, and those effects on the Dead Sea could have major ramifications.

The Dead Sea, a worldwide wonder that sits 400 meters below sea level, borders Israel, Jordan, and the West Bank in the Middle East. It’s so hot in the area that the amount of water lost to evaporation is greater than the amount of water that feeds into the sea, leaving behind massive salt deposits, according to the Israel Ministry of Tourism . Barely any life can be found in the sea due to the high salinity of the water. Here are five impacts to the Dead Sea that are blamed on climate change. Vote Now: Should the U.S. Continue to Support Israel? 1. The region is expected to become more arid, and that is lowering the lake’s surface, according to Live Science . The change in climate will lead to humans taking more water before it has the chance to reach the sea, thus lowering the lake level. 2. The lake could completely disappear, leaving just salt deposits and beaches, Live Science reported. That occurred around 100,000 years ago according to a presentation at the American Geophysical Union’s 2012 annual meeting. It happened during an interglacial period, and the salt deposits were about 150 feet deep. 3.

Climate change has lowered water levels and in turn that has exposed dangerous sinkholes. The smaller amount of water available to agriculture and industry – and their pumping of water – has exposed sinkholes, Bloomberg reported . Considering the Dead Sea’s popularity as a tourist destination, this can have dramatic effects on the economy and safety. 4. Government organizations are working to find ideas to stem the loss of water in the Dead Sea caused by climate change, and one possible solution is to transfer water from the Red Sea and brine from desalination plants to level off the Dead Sea’s depth, according to Bloomberg Business. But there is risk to the sea, as increased amounts of gypsum and other microorganism growth would likely occur due to mixing different types of water. ALERT: Is Global Warming a Hoax? Vote Now 5. Endemic species and migrating birds are seeing huge changes in their habitat because of the sea’s decline, attributed partly to climate change. According to an article by Dave Levitan on Environment 360 , sinkholes have swallowed trees. An Israeli researcher, Eli Raz, said that special habitats and endemic species are under threat due to receding water levels. Oases that once existed can disappear, affecting migratory birds.

Related Stories Below Sea Level: The World's Ten Lowest Points of Land | WanderWisdom Below Sea Level: The World's Ten Lowest Points of Land Below Sea Level: The World's Ten Lowest Points of Land Updated on October 13, 2016 Joined: 7 years agoFollowers: 383Articles: 98 59 Twelve Places to Visit in Hampton Roads, Virginia 6 months ago Unknown to many is the fact that there is dry land below the level of the ocean. It sounds counter-intuitive but our planet has a number of dry patches of land which occur, unbelievably, below 0 feet—or mean sea level. The origins of these areas, featured below, are mostly the result of two geological and geographical phenomena. The first is a rift valley, or an area on the surface of the Earth which is being split or rended apart, causing the ground to 'drop' resulting in a graben. The second is merely the drying of lake or sea. Dry climates, or deserts, are handmaidens of these two aforementioned phenomena as previously submerged areas have gradually been evaporated leaving dry ground below sea level.

In other instances, the most famous being in the Netherlands, people have reclaimed land from the sea or a lake and built protective walls around the reclaimed land, and often the areas reclaimed fall slightly below sea level. Advertisement Zuidplaspolder, Netherlands. | Source 1. Lammefjord, Denmark & Zuidplaspolder, Netherlands Western Europe’s two lowest points are split between two areas in Denmark and the Netherlands respectively, each 23 feet below sea level (-7 meters.) Unlike the other areas on this page, both low points are the result of human-induced land drainage. The polders in the Netherlands are areas that were reclaimed from the sea by the Dutch since the 13thcentury. Land was drained and a wall was built up around it to protect it from the sea, not unlike natural levees that formed in the lower Mississippi River near New Orleans that left some areas around the Crescent City five to seven feet below sea level. Similar to Zuidplaspolder, Lammefjord in Denmark was reclaimed to make room for agricultural land. An arm of the Isefjord, it was finally pumped dry of water in 1943, and a dyke was constructed to keep water out.

Advertisement Lake Hart in the Lake Eyre basin, South Australia. | Source 2. Lake Eyre, Australia Occasionally this basin will fill with water, temporarily turning it into Australia’s largest lake, but the occasion is only ephemeral. Most of the time the Lake Eyre Basin in South Australia is the continent’s lowest point at 49 feet below sea level (15 meters.) Filled with a salt pan and having no outlets, similar to many of the Earth’s below-sea-level basins, Lake Eyre is typically hot for most of the year and located in a desert. The basin floor is the remnant of an ancient lake bed. Advertisement Pelicans at the Salton Sea, California. | Source 3. Salton Sea, California, USA The Salton Sea sits in a graben in the Southern California desert, submerging part of the otherwise exposed San Andreas rift zone between two continental plates, not unlike the Dead Sea rift zone between Israel and Jordan, the lowest spot on earth. The Salton Sea is 234 feet (71.3 meters) below sea level and is a saline lake as well as the largest lake in California.

With a maximum depth of 43 feet (13 meters), the lake’s deepest point is only 5 feet higher than Death Valley’s Badwater. The lake was formed in 1905 after heavy rains swelled waters enough to overrun canals in the Imperial Valley. The excess water flowed back into the basin to the north. Various settlements have attempted to exploit the lake recreationally with some sporadic success but the Salton Sea remains threatened by increasing levels of salinity and fertilizer runoff from the Imperial Valley. Still, it remains an important bird migratory stop on the North American flyway. Fishing for Tilapia is popular as it's the only species that can survive the levels of salinity here at 5.0% w/v. Advertisement 'Badwater', Death Valley, California. Telescope Peak is in the background (left). | Source 4. Death Valley, California, USA This is the lowest, driest, and hottest place in North America.

The ancient lakebed which serves as the floor of this graben is 282 feet (86 meters) below sea level and the lowest point is known as ‘Badwater.’ Death Valley, like many other deep valleys in the same region, is the result of a block of the Earth’s crust sinking as the ‘skin’ gets stretched forming the basin and range region of the area collectively known as the Great Basin. Interestingly, there is a marker on the cliff overhead which denotes ‘Sea Level’, or zero feet. Across the salt flat is the summit of Telescope Peak which rises to more than 11,000 feet above sea level—a huge contrast in elevations and life zones respectively. Death Valley is within Death Valley National Park in the Mojave Desert of California and is easily accessed by roadways. Not to anyone’s surprise, it is not often visited in the summer because of the extreme heat. Advertisement 5. Argentina: Laguna del Carbon, Bajo del Gualicho, Salina Grande, and Saline Chica Within Argentina are all of the significant areas in South America that are below sea level.

Among them is the lowest place in the southern and western hemisphere respectively, the Laguna del Carbon which bottoms out at -344 feet (-105 meters.) All three areas are located in the southern provinces of Argentina. The Laguna del Carbon, in Santa Cruz Province, is an endorheic salt lake, meaning it has no outflow or is in a closed basin. Bajo del Gualicho, in Rio Negro Province, is 236 feet below sea level (-72 meters.) Best known for its wildlife, the Valdes Peninsula in Chubut Province is home to the barren Salina Grande and Salina Chica which have a low elevation of -138 feet (-42 meters.) Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan. | Source 6. Caspian Sea/Caspian Depression The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water in the world and its shore is 92 feet below sea level (-28 meters.) It sits at the bottom of the largest area in the world below sea level straddling the borders of Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan. It’s a salt lake and considered endorheic having no natural outflow.

The deepest dry point of this huge depression lies in Kazakhstan. Known as the Caspian Depression in general, the low point, Karigiye, is 433 feet (–132 meters) below sea level which is a karst trench on the eastern side of the Caspian Sea. Siwa Oasis, Qattara Depression, Egypt. | Source 7. Qattara Depression, Egypt Africa is home to the largest number of places below sea level and North Africa in particular has the most locations within the continent. The Qattara Depression in Egypt’s Libyan Desert, Africa’s second lowest point, is a huge area covering over 7,000 square miles of land, below sea level, averaging close to 200 feet below sea level (-70 meters.) The maximum depth below sea level reaches -436 feet (-133 meters.) An endorheic basin, the Qattara Depression is very dry but supports oases, of which the most famous are Siwa and Cana, both inhabited. Salt pans, dunes, and bizarre wind-eroded rocks are common in the Qattara Depression.

Other areas in North Africa below sea level include Sebkha paki Tah, Morocco, (-55 meters/-180 feet below sea level), Sabkhat Ghuzayyil, Libya (-47 meters/-154 feet), Chott Melrhir, Algeria (-40 m/-131 feet), and Shatt al Gharsah, Tunisia (-17 m/-56 feet.) Bezeklik, Turpan Depression, China. | Source 8. Turpan Depression, China This trough is the Earth’s third lowest point reaching an elevation of 505 feet below sea level (-154 meters.) Located in China’s western desert region south of Mongolia, the Turpan Depression is the country’s hottest and driest area. Formed by a fault, this depression is huge and expansive and is surrounded by some of the tallest mountains on earth, notably the Tian Shan and Bogda Shan. The region has a storied history and the ruins found throughout the basin are attributed to the Silk Road route that ran through here two thousand years ago.

A crossroads of cultures, some of the historic and archeological sites in the region include the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, the Gaochang Ruins, and the Astana-Karakhoja ancient tombs. Lake Assal, Djibouti. | Source 9. Lake Assal, Djibouti Lake Assal is at the bottom of a crater lake which lies 509 feet (-155 meters) below sea level, making it the second lowest point on earth after the Dead Sea rift zone. The larger region, known as the Afar Depression, extends into Ethiopia where the Danakil Depression has a low elevation of 410 feet below sea level (-125 meters.) National Geographic described it as the “cruelest place on earth.” The area is at the northern reaches of Africa’s Great Rift Valley, which is an elongated rift valley where two plates are splitting apart. Lake Assal is the lowest point of land in Africa and it is marked by extremely high temperatures, volcanic landscapes, and desert—typical of most the Earth’s low points. Dead Sea from the Israeli side. | Source 10.

Dead Sea and Sea of Galilee, Israel, Jordan The Dead Sea is the world’s lowest point of land at 1,388 feet below sea level (-423 meters), more than twice as deep as the remaining areas below sea level. Sitting between Israel and Jordan, the Dead Sea is incredibly saline, at 33.7%, and mostly devoid of life. Connected by the Jordan River fifty miles to the north, the Sea of Galilee, also called Lake of Gennesaret, Kinneret, and Lake Tiberias, is the world’s lowest freshwater lake at 702 feet below sea level (-214 meters), making it the second lowest point on the Earth’s surface. While the Dead Sea is considered a hypersaline, endorheic body of water, the Sea of Galilee has both an inflow and outflow provided by the Jordan River. The two bodies of water can hardly be more of a contrast.

Occupying the Jordan Rift Valley, the Dead Sea is a stark, forbidding landscape seemingly barren of life whereas the Sea of Galilee, true to its biblical roots, is life-giving with leafy shores now occupied by dozens of resort hotels which sit adjacent to fertile groves of fruit orchards. The area’s historical significance requires no special explanation as both lakes are located at arguably the world’s crossroads of history and civilization. The Dead Sea - ASTER Image Gallery The Dead Sea Click on Image to Enlarge (JPG) The Dead Sea (859,080 bytes) ( 1,230 x 3,209 ) The Dead Sea is the lowest point on Earth at 418 meters below sea level, and also one of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth with a salinity of about 300 parts-per-thousand (nine times greater than ocean salinity). It is located on the border between Jordan and Israel, and is fed by the Jordan River. The Dead Sea is located in the Dead Sea Rift, formed as a result of the Arabian tectonic plate moving northward away from the African Plate.

The mineral content of the Dead Sea is significantly different from that of ocean water, consisting of approximately 53% magnesium chloride, 37% potassium chloride and 8% sodium chloride. In the early part of the 20th century, the Dead Sea began to attract interest from chemists who deduced that the Sea was a natural deposit of potash and bromine. From the Dead Sea brine, Israel and Jordan produce 3.8 million tons potash, 200,000 tons elemental bromine, 45,000 tons caustic soda, 25,000 tons magnesium metal, and sodium chloride. Both countries use extensive salt evaporation pans that have essentially diked the entire southern end of the Dead Sea. The ASTER image mosaic was acquired on May 22, 2006, covers an area of 18.5 x 48.1 km, and is centered near 31.4 degrees north latitude, 35.4 degrees east longitude. Click on thumbnails below for full resolution images. The Dead Sea

Question: What salt sea borders Jordan and is 433 meters below sea level?
Answer: Dead Sea