The Dead Sea is landlocked between Jordan and Israel. It is the lowest point on Earth at over 1,300 feet below sea level. Rivers flow into the Dead Sea carrying minerals, but nothing flows out. When the water evaporates, the minerals are left behind resulting in its saltiness.
The Dead Sea is forty-two miles long and eleven miles wide. It is shrinking at a rate of about 3 feet a year because of mineral mining, diversion for crop irrigation and evaporation.
The Dead Sea got its name because it seemed incapable of supporting life. However, scientists have discovered bacteria which adapted to the salty environment.
The Sea contains twenty-one different minerals. The combination of muddy, mineral water and oxygen-rich air benefits people with skin problems, arthritis and respiratory issues.
Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians are working together to save the Sea, which may become extinct by 2050 if nothing is done to stop it from shrinking.
