The Dead Sea

 by Daniel & Michelle Ramsey

 At 1,300 feet below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest place on earth.  This body of water is called Yam Hamelakh in Hebrew, meaning “The Salt Sea.”  It is truly a remarkable place.  The deep turquoise waters against the backdrop of the mountains are truly striking.  The numerous salt formations along the shoreline are like noting else on earth.  Yes, it is hot!  Temperatures during summer months soar well above 100 f. But at least it’s a dry heat!

The sea is about 34 miles long and ranges in width from 2 to 11 miles.  Water from the Jordan River flows into the sea, but there is no outlet.  The high salinity and mineral content of the water allows one to float with ease on the surface of the water.  The mud and minerals of the sea  are used to treat a host of skin conditions.

A number of significant events recorded in the Biblical text and Jewish history took place in this region.  Some of the most notable are: (1)  The towns of Sodom and Gomorrah were located along the southern portion of the region; (2)  The famous Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered at Qumran and various other locations around the Dead Sea; and (3)  Masada, the Herodian fortress and final zealot holdout is also located in this region.

We hope you enjoyed this short video blog from this fascinating region.  See you next time.