Q&A 0268 – How is the Dead Sea ‘dead’?

Why or how is the Dead Sea "dead"?

The salinity of the oceans is around 3.5%.  Yet the Dead Sea has a phenomenally high salt content -- around 30%! -- and no life can survive in it. That is why it is called "dead." Not surprisingly, another name for this body of water is the Salt Sea. Incidentally, at its surface, which is approximately 1300 feet below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest depression on the face of the earth.

If you go for a swim in it, prepare for the chemical sting. And for the amazing buoyancy your body will experience!

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