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Location - The Dead Sea is located on the border between Israel and Jordan.

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Size - The lake is 67 km long and 18 km wide at its widest point.

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Oasis - The edges of the Dead Sea are made up of crystallized salt which make it white, and provide a beautiful contrast to the clear blue waters.

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Biblical name - In Biblical texts the Dead Sea is named as the Eastern Sea, the Sea of Arabah and the Sea of Salt.

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Salt levels - The level of salt here is 35%. In comparison, in the ocean the level of salt is just 3,5%.

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Uninhabitable - The name 'Dead Sea' comes from the fact very little can survive in the water due to the elevated level of salt.

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Bacteria - Just one bacteria, the Haloarcula marismortui lives in the lake because it can filter the salt, and thus remains unaffected.

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Impossible to reach the bottom - The high salt levels mean that the lake is even denser than the human body. So, hard as you may try, you probably won't sink, and it's great for people who can't swim as they just float!

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Impossible to swim - The salt levels also make it almost impossible to swim. It's the same sensation to trying to swim with a flotation device stuck to your body.

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Not a sea - It's called the Dead Sea but it's actually a salt lake into which the river Jordan flows. The lake retains all the water from the river, where it stays.

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Why so salty? - The minerals from the surrounding rocks get washed into the sea and make it salty.

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Biggest basin - The Dead Sea is the biggest basin in the world and sits approximately 400 meters below sea level.

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Lowest street in the world - Route 90 is the road in Israel that passes the Dead Sea and is considered the lowest road in the world, at the exact same level as the Dead Sea, 400 meters below sea level.

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Unique climate - The Dead Sea is one of the only places on earth where you can sunbathe and never burn. The lake's unique geographical qualities provide protection against UV rays.

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Deepest - The deepest point of the Dead Sea is 377 meters, making it the deepest salt lake in the world.

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Dead Sea mummies - Egyptians used the Dead Sea asphalt to embalm their dead before being wrapped up. They came to the Dead Sea for asphalt many times.

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Herodes - Herod, the King of Israel between 37 and 31 BCE, built a fortress on the top of Masada, right next to the Dead Sea. He used it as a holiday home and a refuge when he was in danger.

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Beauty industry - The high concentration of sodium and other minerals make it important in dermatological treatments and aesthetics due its supposed medicinal benefits.

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Spas - The Israeli beauty industry has built mud spas alongside the lake which are visited by tourists from all over the world.

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Extra oxygen - Thanks to its unique climate the area produces elevated levels of oxygen which creates a relaxing effect for people who visit.

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The Greeks - The Greeks used this place for its asphalt more than its salt, which is why they called it Asphalt Lake.

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Healthy place - Since ancient times  people have believed the lake to be good for one's health. To this day scientists and researchers study the lake's benefits for the curing of skin diseases.

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Great for health - The high concentration of potassium, magnesium, sulfur, calcium and other minerals (21 in total) mean there are healing, anti-inflammatory and anti-septic properties to be found here.

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Mine - The Dead Sea is also used as a potash mine, a soluble form of potassium. These mines are a multi-million dollar industry.

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Drying out -

Over the past 60 years the Dead Sea has been drying out at an alarming rate, and could be completely gone in 50 years if action is not taken. Israel and Jordan have an agreement to transport water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea to keep it from drying out completely.

See also: At risk: These cities may disappear by 2030 due to rising sea levels

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