Jordan: Dead Sea

No trip to Jordan can be complete without experiencing the lowest place on Earth – the Dead Sea. In reality, it’s actually a salt lake into which the Jordan River flows without any further outflow, only via evaporation. The surface elevation of the Dead Sea is −430.5 m (−1,412 ft), the lowest on the planet. Dead Sea is also the saltiest body of water in the world, with the salinity of 34.2%. There is zero life in the water, hence the name of Dead Sea. The shores are covered with salt and salt formations, as well as Dead Sea mud highly valued for its medicinal qualities. So what’s there to do here? Cover yourself head to toe with the mud and go float in the water – it’s like seating in an arm chair – it’s so buoyant!