Dead sea, the name thought to be given by ancient visitors to the area 100’s of years ago observed that nothing lived in the waters neither fish nor plants hence it was called dead. Dead Sea is enclosed by Jordan to the east and Israel and Palestine to the west. It is ‘deepest hypersaline’ lake in the world having high salinity (8.6 times saltier than oceans), people can easily float in it without sinking due to its natural buoyancy properties.
Water therapy
Dead sea is famous for water therapy or can also be said as world only open air spa due to its high salinity. It is therapeutic for skin treatments in eczema, psoriasis as there is high mineral content in its water and UV radiation from the suns rays is reduced, the higher atmospheric pressure at the lower altitudes means the air is enriched with oxygen and there is a very low level of pollen and other allergens. In the heart of the Israeli Dead Sea resort, located the Dead Sea clinic medical center. This foundation has been established on the principle of kurotology.
Herods palace
Dead Sea was a place of refuge for King David. It was one of the world’s first health resorts (for Herod the Great), Queen Cleopatra that first ordered health resorts to be built along it’s shore line, and factories to make cosmetic products from the mineral rich mud.
Ein gedi is an oasis and natural reserve in Israel. ‘Ein Gedi’ literally means ‘kid spring’.
The Ein Gedi National Park is the second largest oasis in Israel.
Jericho
It is called as ‘city of palms’. It is one of the oldest cities of the world. It has attractions like Mount of temptation monastery, Nabi Musa , Wadi Qelt.
Qumran national park
Qumran city was called as city of salt in biblical account. Tourists can travel to Qumran National Park by taking Route 90 north of the Dead Sea. It includes series of caves: some natural and some artificial.
Mount Sodom
Those who invest the time to climb to the top will be richly rewarded with panoramic views of the Dead Sea and its surrounding hills. ‘Fish trial’ is the area where fossilized skeletons of fish can be found within schist layers. Malcham cave underneath the mount Sodom is said to be the single natural salt cave in the world. This mountain continues to grow taller at a rate of 3.5 mm a year.
Lot’s cave
There is a story behind it. Sodom and Gomorrah were two of the evil cities in the world. So, God decided to demolish them both. But there was only one good family in the city who were saved. They were asked to flee the city and were told not to look back. But unluckily, Lot’s wife looked back and turned to pillar of salt. Lot and his daughters hid in a cave and saw the destruction of the cities. This cave is called ‘Lots cave’.
Wadi Arugot
There are pools and waterfalls. It is a beautiful hike in an ever-flowing stream and usually less crowded.
Wadi Bokek
This valley has tapered gorges and waterholes. There is also a flourishing vegetation around. So, this hike is very refreshing one.
Mount Nebo
It is a 1000m high mountain in western Jordan. According to the final chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses ascended Mount Nebo to view the Land of Israel.
With all these attractions around and near, makes the amazing Dead Sea, a must see place.
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