Dead Sea

The Dead Sea — called Bahr al-Mayyit in Arabic ('dead sea'), Yam ha-Melaḥ in Hebrew ('sea of salt') — is one of the most fascinating geological wonders of the planet. Tectonic salt lake located on the border between Jordan (east bank) and Israel/Palestine (west bank), it marks the lowest point of emerged Earth at -430.5 m below sea level (2024 measurement, continuously falling about 1 m per year since 1975 due to accelerated evaporation and diversion of Jordan River waters). Its exceptional 33-34% salinity (vs 3.5% average for oceans, i.e. 10 times saltier) makes it one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world — surpassed only by a few Antarctic lakes and the lakes of Ethiopia.

This extreme salinity gives the Dead Sea its properties unique in the world. Buoyancy is such that no mammal can sink — one floats on the surface like a board, lying on the back, without any effort. The sensation is extraordinary and destabilising: water pushes the body up so much that it is impossible to swim normally (any attempt at crawl or breaststroke results in turning onto the back). One thus reads flat in the water, newspapers and magazines in hand — iconic image reproduced in all tourist brochures. The density of the water (1.24 g/cm³) is such that one can literally sit in the water as in an armchair. The mineral composition — rich in magnesium (33%), potassium (25%), bromine, sodium and iodides — makes the Dead Sea a world-renowned major thalassotherapy centre for treating eczema, psoriasis, rheumatism and dermatological disorders. The climate there is exceptional: dry warm air, almost non-existent pollen, UV intensity filtered by 25% by the extra layer of air above the basin, oxygen 8% denser — unique therapeutic conditions.

The Jordanian coast of the Dead Sea (50 km of coastline, 50 minutes' drive from Amman) is dotted with 5-star resorts that offer direct access to the sea, high-end spas, infinity pools overlooking the turquoise waters and, on clear days, the hills of Judea and the West Bank. Flagship complexes: Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea (one of the first opened in 2001, traditional Arab village architecture), Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea (the most luxurious, inspired by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, 8 pools), Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa (2014, contemporary design), Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea (mid-range family-friendly) and Crowne Plaza Dead Sea. All offer private access to the Dead Sea beach (Jordanian public beaches are rare and of mediocre quality), infinity pools with views, spas with Dead Sea-derived products (mud, scrubs, masks), gourmet restaurants and terraces for sunset.

In the immediate vicinity of the resorts is Bethany Beyond the Jordan (Al-Maghtas in Arabic), a major biblical site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015. It was here, on the east bank of the Jordan, that according to Christian tradition John the Baptist baptised Jesus of Nazareth (around the year 30 of our era, see John 1:28). Archaeological excavations (started in 1996 after the Jordan-Israel peace treaty) have unearthed about twenty Byzantine and Umayyad religious buildings (5th-8th centuries): Church of Saint John the Baptist, Christian monasteries, pilgrim baths, cisterns. The site has become one of the main Christian pilgrimage sites in the Middle East — visited by Popes John Paul II (2000), Benedict XVI (2009) and Francis (2014). Entry is paid (12 JOD = €16, not covered by the Jordan Pass), mandatorily guided visit (1h30-2h), shuttle access only (military zone on the border with Israel).