The Dead Sea: History you can bathe in
Posted on
Located at the lowest point on earth, nearly 1,300 feet below sea level, the Dead Sea is one of the most impressive and mystical feeling places in Israel.
The "Dead Sea” is a fitting name for this unique body of water. With a massively concentrated amount of saline in the water, the sea creates a harsh environment that normal floral and fauna cannot survive in. The result is a "dead” body of water devoid of all but the most microscopic of bacterium. More popularly known however, is the effect the high salt content has on buoyancy, allowing visitors to effortlessly float atop the water. Grimly, the gentle bobbing of swimmers relaxing on the water can be compared to corpses - hence the macabre name.
Ironically however, despite all the associations with death and desolation, the Dead Sea is actually one of the most prominent health and wellness tourist destinations in the world! For thousands of years, people have flocked to the Dead Sea to enjoy its natural therapeutic qualities. Not only is the high salt content attractive for holistic treatments, the surrounding environment is quite unique, featuring reduced ultraviolet radiation, higher atmospheric pressure, and an increased oxygen content in the air. For these reasons, the entire region is beloved by natural medicine practitioners, medical scientists, and health tourists.
In particular, people with skin and bone conditions find solace and comfort in the waters. Sufferers of psoriasis and arthritis have reported relief from regularly floating in the waters. Mud from the Dead Sea has been used as a topical ointment to help with everything from rashes to the visual effects of aging for thousands of years, a tradition that continues today.
The Dead Sea has significant historical value. Referenced in the Bible multiple times, the Dead Sea is believed to also be close to the original location of Sodom and Gomorra, cities destroyed in the time of Abraham. The Dead Sea scrolls, a collection of the third oldest (and by far the most comprehensive) surviving manuscripts of Christian text were found in the nearby Qumran caves, establishing an essential historical link to early Christianity.
Sadly though, the Dead Sea is rapidly shrinking. Fed by the Jordan River, the Dead Sea has no outflow, but suffers from incredible rates of evaporation. Combined with other changes in the environment, the Dead Seas have been noticeably and worryingly receding for the past decades. There are efforts underway to preserve this historical and cultural treasure however, including the Red Sea-Dead Sea canal project that will supplement the Dead Sea with additional sea water to help stabilize its volume without disrupting its natural qualities.
The Dead Sea isn't just another tourist attraction, its a piece of history. It's a chance to connect with a tradition that stretches back centuries. Millions of people over the years have come to witness the natural splendor and genius of God's design, to enjoy the clean fresh air, the rejuvenating mud, and the soothing salts. In a world where so much of our history has been lost to war, or environmental destruction, or neglect, the Dead Sea is one of the special places to have survived the passing of time relatively unchanged. If you are planning a trip to Israel, it is a destination that cannot be missed.
