The deepest point of the earth: Visiting the Dead Sea

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Von wom87

We visit the deepest point on the earth to discover an incredibly beautiful landscape that has both a fascinating story and a tragic future

Peter loves collecting titles. So far we have the driest place on earth (Atacama desert), the hottest place on earth (Death Valley), the northernmost capital of the world (Reykjavik), the highest capital of the world (be it la paz or quito), the highest point in Africa (Kilimanjaro), the seven wonders of world (Mauna Kea), the end of the world (Ushuaia) and the international date limit.

When the view was offered to visit the deepest point on earth, Peter was expected to be enthusiastic.

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The Dead Sea is 420 m below the sea level and is considered the lowest point of the earth. Depending on the definition, there are of course several candidates for the title:

  • The deepest point on earth in relation to land is the banks of the Dead Sea, which Palestine, Israel and Jordan share (1,378 feet / 420 m below sea level).
  • The deepest point of the earth in relation to land, which is not covered by liquid water, is the valley under the Byrd glacier in the Antarctic (9.121 foot / 2,780 m below sea level). However, it is covered by a thick layer of ice and therefore not accessible.
  • The point that is closest to the center of the ground is the reason for the Arctic Ocean near the geographical north pole (17,881 foot / 5,450 m below sea level).
  • The deepest point of the earth as a whole is Challenger Deep at the bottom of the Marianian grave (36.201 foot / 11,034 m below sea level).

dry land is good for me, so I said Peter that the Dead Sea was sufficient for the title. (He would be on the way to the Marianengraben if he had the means.)

We broke up from Amman in Jordan and went on the 60 km long trip to the Dead Sea, a Salzer lake in the Jordangraben. We were on behalf of the Asian Bride magazine, so we spent a few days in relative luxury in the Mövenpick Resort & Spa, just a few seconds from the banks of the Dead Sea.

The first thing I noticed was the complete calm and silence. This may sound like a displaced adjectives, but is actually a property that is supported by science. The Dead Sea has no drain; Instead, millions of liters of water evaporate large amounts of salt on the beach every day, creating a thick atmospheric haze that dampens the sound for almost nothing.

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The most two -daffle is the extreme salinity of the water. At 34 %, the water in the lake is about ten times as salty as the sea. This kills almost all marine life - hence the nickname "Totes Sea". It should be said that this interesting fact is manifested as an actual physical pain when it goes into the water with an open or healing cut - as I found out when my knee started singing in pain.

alt = "Interesting facts about the Dead Sea in Jordan"> Atas & Boots floating on the surface of the Dead Sea

swimming is almost impossible because the water has a density of 1.24 kg/liter. Instead, visitors are encouraged to simply lie on their backs, float and relax. After all, you can't drown in the Dead Sea!

We made the mistake to laze towards Jericho in Palestina's West Bank. We ventured about 60 m from the coast before we heard a sharp whistle that demanded our return. Uh oh. We turned around and swam as quickly as the water allowed (quite slowly).

We spent the afternoon (literally) to sow ourselves in the mud, which is known for its therapeutic properties. The mud on the Dead Sea is supposed to alleviate serious skin diseases and joint complaints and also offers some beauty advantages.

alt = “”> Atlas & Boots Peter in the mud on the dead sea

The mud also keeps the swarms of room flying away, which are lured into the area by the natural fertilizer neighboring farms. Be warned that the flies can arrive in large numbers and be a constant annoyance, so don't eat outside during the day. Even sunbathing can be an exam!

effort was made to contain this phenomenon, but the government has a bigger problem to solve: the death of the dead sea. The reduction of minerals and the detour of the water from the Jordan have led to a crash of the water level. In 1930 the surface of the lake was 1,050 km². Today it is 600 and continues. The water level has dropped by 40 m and now falls by three meters per year.

When you stand on the bank at night and look at the lights of Jericho, it is difficult not to think about human failure - both in our way of dealing with nature and in our way of dealing with each other. The death of the Dead Sea, this refuge place in an inconsistent region, would go beyond the mere loss and venture into a tragedy. See it before it is gone.

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deepest point of the earth: the essentials

What: Visiting the Dead Sea, the deepest point of the earth.

Where: Dead Sea, Jordan. We spent two nights in the Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea, which offered a wonderful view, a luxurious spa and friendly service.

When: The best time to visit the Dead Sea is spring (March to May) when the temperatures are warm but not scorching. As is well known, the temperatures reach 45 ° C (113 ° f).

like: From Amman a taxi service for 20 iodine ($ 28) can be booked for the day. Hotels calculate 35 iodine ($ 49) for the service. Some local hotels and resorts also offer a shuttle service for a fee.

There are several buses that drive from Amman every day. A bus from Muhajireen bus station costs up to 4 iodine ($ 6). On Fridays at 8.30 a.m., a Jett bus from Amman (Abdali) drives to the Dead Sea (10 iodine / $ 14). There are several international airlines that fly to Amman. Book via Skyscanner at the best prices.

It is worth mentioning that you only need a few nights on the Dead Sea. Some visitors choose to spend a week there to simply sunbathe and relax, but this can prove to be difficult in view of the many room flies in the area!

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Lonely Planet Jordan is a comprehensive travel guide for Jordan, ideal for those who want to explore the most important sights and take less busy roads.
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