What actually enables us to float on the water’s surface in the Dead Sea, and why is there such a strong smell?
Here are some interesting things to know about the Dead Sea:
1.
It is very difficult to sunbathe at the Dead Sea. Since the Dead Sea is so far away from the sun, the intensity of the rays are is less powerful in its vicinity. Therefore, if you are counting on getting a Mediterranean tan, it is better to sunbathe at the Mediterranean. On the other hand, like everywhere hot and shady, it is still important here to use sunscreen to block out dangerous ultraviolet rays.
2.
The Dead Sea is very healthy for skin diseases. The combination of low humidity, minimal radiation, and other weather-related factors make the Dead Sea region a cure for skin diseases such as psoriasis, and respiratory diseases. This is precisely why you can find in almost every hotel on the seaside a solarium – a compound where visitors can expose themselves to the sun’s rays in an enclosed place with air conditioning.
3.
In the Dead Sea it is very difficult to drown (but not impossible). The high salt content in the Dead Sea water makes the water denser and so our bodies are made more buoyant and able to float easily. But if you put your head in the water, and then flip your feet up, the danger of drowning is almost unavoidable.
4.
The smell!!!! The Dead Sea and surrounding springs contain extremely large quantities of minerals. The minerals are very healthy, but the large amount of sulfur, combined with clays emitted from the sea, creates a very unpleasant odor (which is reminiscent of rotten eggs).
5.
Salty Fish!!! The high salinity in the Dead Sea water was formed from by a combination of standing water plus the dissolving of the soil and rocks in the area into the water. The Dead Sea is fed by water running into it from the Jordan River, but doesn’t go anywhere else. In the years when the Sea of Galilee overflowed its banks, and the Degania Dam was opened, many fish embarked on a downstream journey that they did not know would end very bitterly, that is to say – very salty! When they reached the Dead Sea they became salted fish. And no, it’s not advisable to try it at home … just because of the following…
6.
What is the difference between salty and bitter? If you’ve never tasted Dead Sea water, you probably think the flavor is salty. But that is not true at all! The Dead Sea waters are bitter! Very bitter! Why? Simply because of the huge amount of salt it contains, the salty flavor reaches a level that our sense of taste cannot cope with, and makes it actually taste bitter…
7.
This sea is actually a lake! It’s very nice to call it the “Dead Sea” but if you look at the dictionary definition, it is in fact a lake – a body of water surrounded by land that has no connection to the ocean. But there is no doubt that saying “Dead Lake” will not sound as impressive, so we will stick with “Sea” …
8.
Can you please embalm someone? The Dead Sea was a health destination even during King Herod’s time. It was the source of all the oils, mud and other materials used to embalm bodies in ancient Egypt.
9.
Warm…hot…and hotter… The springs emanating from the Dead Sea are of varying degrees of heat, so even in winter they are really fun to dip into. But watch out! Some are capable of reaching temperatures up to 42 degrees Celsius (107 Fahrenheit)!!!! That is definitely very hot and it is best to test the hot springs with your foot before jumping in.
10.
The Sea of Death??? The Dead Sea earned its name due to its environment, which makes it very difficult for animals, and even plants, to exist. On the other hand, the minerals, the unique weather and the healing properties have also made the Dead Sea a life-affirming place, and especially attractive to tourists.
Now that you know how to be cautious, feel free jump to the Dead Sea!
Those were 10 facts about the Dead Sea. for more information about the dead sea follow next link: dead sea information
The amazing discovery of finding 900 parchment scrolls stored in pottery, in various caves in the Dead Sea region, was both fascinating and exhilarating. Once the excitement died down, researchers began to try to figure out who wrote the scrolls.
How did they end up in the urns, and how, for God’s sake, did they managed to be preserved so well for 2000 years??
For the first article on this topic, go to the following link: Dead Sea Scrolls
The first theory:
During the period when the scrolls were written, members of the Essenian sect lived In the Qumran region.
At that time, the Great Revolt took place, which was the first of the three waves of Jewish rebellion against the Romans. That first rebellion was led by Josephus ben Mattityahu, but he failed miserably and fell into captivity.
The scrolls found in the Qumran caves included one scroll called “Serach Hayachad“, which contained descriptions of a community’s lifestyle that were very similar to older descriptions recorded by Josephus Ben Mattityahu on the Essenian sect.
Subsequent evidence was found to reinforce the notion that the same Essenian sect that Josephus ben Mattityahu described is the very sect that lived there, wrote the scrolls and buried them in the caves in the area.
The second theory:
The Scroll of “Some of the Acts of the Torah” lists certain laws that correspond to the laws of the Sadducees. In that particular scroll there also appears a calendar containing holiday dates according to the customs of the Sadducees.
That led some researchers to speculate that the scrolls were written by the Sadducees themselves. The scholars who support this theory have presented more and more hypotheses over the years, and have succeeded in establishing it as legitimate.
Those same scholars strongly argued that those who wrote the scrolls were very intellectual people with great religious knowledge, and that no such people lived outside the capital – Jerusalem. Their theory is simple – before the Great Revolt, copies of important writings were prepared and concealed where the Romans would never venture.
And the fact – they never found the hidden scrolls …
The third theory:
Christian scholars have generally argued that these are Christian writings.
But this hypothesis is not very well-founded….
So how were the Qumran scrolls preserved for 2000 years?
At the beginning of the research, everyone was unanimous – the dry air in the area and also using the Dead Sea salts to dry the parchment were what kept the scrolls in such good condition.
Recently, a new discovery proved that the mysterious salt preserving the scrolls was not at all from the Dead Sea region.
The research was done on the longest scroll – the Temple Scroll – and proved that it was preserved with sulfate – a type of salt that is not found in the area at all.
So what does this mean? And are the scholars who associated the Scrolls with the Essenes right, or those who claim the Scrolls originated in Jerusalem with the Sadducees?
Only time, and further research, will tell…
For in depth information on this topic, go to: The Digital Dead Sea Scrolls – a project of the Israel Museum http://dss.collections.imj.org.il/
The general answer is no.
But it is important to keep reading in order to get the correct information about the risks.
The Dead Sea – Healthy or Dangerous?
It would very easy for us to close our eyes and ignore the dangers of the Dead Sea, when we focus on taking advantage of the delights of buoyancy, mud, minerals and smells (well, maybe, not the smells) this special place has to offer.
But the Dead Sea has unique dangers, and it is very important to be aware of them before diving right in (rule number one: don’t ever dive into the Dead Sea…).
High Temperature.
The Dead Sea region is one of the hottest areas in Israel. At peak times, the temperature can reach 47 degrees Celsius. That is not the kind of heat that the human body can withstand for very long.
So before you hit the beach, drink a lot. Wear a hat or sit under an umbrella, and limit your stay if you have no interest in roasting yourself for dinner.
The sea is salty and the sea is deep!
The ratio of salt to water in the Dead Sea is 34%. True, it is fun to float on the water, but this salt is caustic, and aside from creating a burning sensation in open sores and burning the throat if water is swallowed, the salt can also dehydrate us.
Therefore, it is advisable not to immerse yourself in the Dead Sea water for more than a 20 minute session.
Did a jellyfish just sting me???
Well, there are no jellyfish in the Dead Sea, but its salt crsytal floor is rough and hard, and can cause unpleasant injuries that will naturally burn even more in the water.
So wear closed water shoes and protect yourself from this unnecessary discomfort.
The gaping earth
It does not happen all the time, but occasionally sinkholes open along the Dead Sea shoreline.
Definitely a real and serious danger to anyone in the vicinity when it occurs.
How careful should you be?
Authorities closely monitor the entire area and report any new sinkholes, or the dangers of one opening up
so it is advisable to keep track of the reports and of course visit only the marked beaches.
Floating upside down
It is true that the amount of salt in the seawater enables us to float effortlessly, but if you try it once you also know that the same fact makes it difficult for us to flip or change position.
Now imagine what would happen if God forbid you found yourself floating on your stomach? It will be very difficult for you to raise your upper body out of the water or flip over, and thus drowning is a real threat.
To prevent such a tragedy, there are lifeguards on the shores of the Dead Sea. We recommend swimming and floating with caution, take care not to lose your balance, and if you feel a little dizzy or weak, get out of the water immediately.
You read in this post about the dangers of the Dead Sea. For more articles and posts Go to the following link: Dead Sea Information
Dead Sea History – How Far Back Does History Go? The history of the Dead Sea begins in the Bible, as the Dead Sea is already mentioned in Pentateuch, in the Book of Genesis. The Scriptures relate that an angel destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, which are located in this area, sitting right in the area, and helped Lot and his family escape. To this day, hikers in the area invariably search for the legendary “pillar of salt”, that was once Lot’s wife. (And if you’re lucky enough to find it, tell us) But if you look at it from other aspects, the Dead Sea history is much more ancient than the Bible. That is because it is an integral part of the African Syrian rift that, according to some opinions, many many years ago!!! (We have no idea how they calculated it) This great valley, similar to its name, is a rift between the plates on which Asian and African continents sit opposite each other, creating a huge fissure between them – a fissure that begins in Turkey and descends all the way down the Jordan River, south to Mozambique. The Dead Sea is the lowest part of the rift, and overall, it is the lowest point in the world!
How was the Dead Sea created?
According to scholars who are experts on the African Syrian rift, the Dead Sea region was once just another wide, flat valley full of fresh water. As the tectonic plates began to move, the bottom of the valley began to break up in some places and was filled with pits. Among them is the Dead Sea.
How did the Dead Sea become salty?
Fresh water flowed into the rift created in the Dead Sea Valley, because it was connected to the Mediterranean via the Jezreel Valley. (Remember – we are talking about many many years ago.) But then the rift was cut off from the sea, the fresh water began to evaporate, and the sediment from the rocks in the vicinity that reached into the remaining water left there made it the lake with the fourth highest level of salinity in the world. The Dead Sea, regardless of what stage of formation it was in, was always in a mountainous, dry area, with extremely harsh and hot weather conditions and very poor water sources. But the hot springs scattered along its shores have always attracted bathers who came in search of cures for disease. Throughout history, settlements have risen and fallen in the Dead Sea region. Two of them, which are quite ancient and full of history, still exist today. One is Jericho, the date town of the Dead Sea, in the fertile spring area, and the other is Ein Gedi, which extends towards the western coast of the sea. Go to the main page of the blog, and learn more from a variety of other articles: Dead Sea Blog
It’s a natural source of Vitamin D, helps relieve cold symptoms, and of course – how can we forget – the sun can give you a perfect Mediterranean tan!
But tanning itself comes with many dangers because too much exposure to the sun’s rays can harm us to the point of being life-threatening.
So how do you take advantage of the benefits of the sun’s rays without being exposed to the dangers?
Here are some tips for tanning:
1.
The hours when the sun’s rays are least dangerous while tanning are before 10:00 AM and after 4:00 PM. During all the hours in between the sun’s radiation is particularly intense. Yes, we know it doesn’t leave a lot of time to tan, but ask yourself what your priorities are…
2.
Sunscreen is not for beauty, it is for protection!!! So it’s important to remember to apply sunscreen before exposing yourself to the sun. Preferably about half an hour before exposure, so that it can absorb well into your skin.
Don’t forget to choose a broad spectrum sunscreen and of course make sure it hasn’t expired. Sometimes it seems to us that last year’s cream is totally fine, but it’s not….
3.
Don’t forget the important places!!! Applying sunscreen to your back and shoulders is obvious. But what about your nose? Your ears? And all the other places on the body where our skin is exposed to radiation and not protected? Yes, the ears too! You don’t want them to get burnt. It’s not pleasant!
Tanning at the Dead Sea
4.
Sunscreen not really water resistant!!! That means if you take a dip in the water to cool down a bit, it’s time to renew the protection and apply another layer.
True, it will take a few more minutes away from your precious tanning time, but is it really worth the risk to skip the sunscreen?
5.
Perfume causes tan stains!!! Obviously smelling good is crucial, at any time, any hour. But if you sunbathe after you spray yourself with perfume, you will get spotted… And we don’t think it’s the look you want, so give up the perfume when you are sun bathing…
6.
And having said all that, there is one more important fact to know!!! Even in the shade the sun’s rays may be quite active. So on the one hand – you can enjoy sitting in the shade and still get a nice tan. On the other hand, without enough much protection you will burn, and that is not enjoyable at all.
And don’t forget:
the sun dehydrates the body, especially in the Dead Sea area where the weather is particularly dry!
Take plenty of water with you, and drink all the time, even if you don’t feel thirsty!
That’s all for tanning tips, with the main goal being a nice – and healthy – tan.
Visit our blog to enjoy more information about the Dead Sea – Dead Sea information
In continuation from the previous post on Masada’s history, we present here a collection of professional photos of Masada. Of course, pictures are not a substitute for an actual visit. There is nothing like exploring a site with your own eyes and feet, to get a sense of its fascinating history.
You can read more about Masada in the previous post, by visiting this link: Masada
*Please note: The following pictures of Masada were purchased from a company that sells photographs, and as we have purchased them for the exclusive purposes of our projects only, we do not have the authority to permit visitors to our site to copy them and post them elsewhere.
