The Salt and Life of the Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is Not a Sea?         

No, in fact, the Dead Sea is not a sea! It is a salt lake that borders Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west. It is called a sea and not a lake because the water is salty, not fresh.

How Salty is the Dead Sea?

Ever take a big gulp of water in the ocean? That’s not refreshing! Salt! Yuck!

Now imagine that water being 8 times saltier than the waters of the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean. This is the reality of the Dead Sea. Waters in the Dead Sea have a salinity level of 30-35%. That is like taking a one liter container, filling one-third of it with sea salt and two-thirds of it with water, mixing it around and drinking it. The results are one salty mouthful, and a yearning for a big, cold glass of fresh water!

So What Makes it so Salty?

The Dead Sea is the lowest point on Earth at 1,237 feet (377 meters) below Sea Level. There are several seas in the area around the Dead Sea, and these seas drain into rivers that then drain into the Dead Sea.

But this is normal for a lake, right? Well, yes, most lakes get their water from rivers, but what makes the Dead Sea so unique is that no river carries these salt and mineral deposits back out of the Dead Sea. The only way for these waters to empty from the Dead Sea is through evaporation. When they evaporate, they leave behind the mineral and salt deposits; moreover, water evaporates at a higher level then it comes in, making the waters even saltier. All the deposits form extremely high concentrations of mineral salts, and in deeper portions of the Dead Sea, there are salt mound formations that lie on the bottom surface of the Dead Sea. These formations also lie around the Dead Sea’s banks, leaving one feeling as if they have entered a winter wonderland full of glistening piles of snow.

Does Life Flourish in the Dead Sea?

The salt in the water is so toxically deadly to living things, which is why this unique body of water is named as it is. Marine life, including fish, simply cannot survive. If a fish does make it to the waters of the Dead Sea, it meets an instant death.

There are, however, few forms of bacterium, algae and microbes that have adapted and are able to live in the harsh Dead Sea environment. These, however, are the only signs of life. It is said these “halophilic” or “salt-loving” creatures cannot live without salt due to a negatively charged protein that grants them a special ability to absorb water instead of salt.

In the 1980’s, a flooding incident allowed life in the Dead Sea to be seen with the naked eye. The Dead Sea changed from its normal dark blue color to a red tone. The flood waters lowered the salinity level which allowed algae to flourish and bloom, allowing it to become the Red-Dead-Sea Immediately after the flood waters receded, however, the high salinity returned, and so did the deep-blue color of the Dead Sea.

Can Humans Enter the Dead Sea?

The Dead Sea is not deadly to humans because humans are capable of adapting to the salty environment. The biggest challenge humans face in the Dead Sea is swimming. The water, because it is so dense from the high salinity level, acts as a force against the body, pushing the body to the top of the water level. The body becomes extremely buoyant.

While humans do not face the same unfortunate instant death fate as fish, anyone planning to visit and swim in the Dead Sea needs to take extra precaution for several reasons. A swimmer should wear shoes in the Dead Sea because the salt mounds on the lake’s floor are so sharp in some places that they can create cuts in skin. This can lead to a different issue, also, because open cuts and sores can cause extreme pain as the salts and minerals meet the wound. Even though the water causes one to be buoyant, it is important to be mindful for a swimmer to keep their face above water. It is possible to drown in the Dead Sea, despite rumors that it is not possible. These are minor observances, however, and should not prohibit one from taking an opportunity to swim in the therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea. It is a truly unique natural wonder!