Last week, we took our last trip before the Fall semester started and headed out to the Dead sea to experience just exactly what water 8X saltier than the ocean really feels like (hint: OK for grownups, completely disagreeable to children). More on that later.
Below is a view from Masada. You can see Jordanian mountains behind the water. It was beautiful seeing the sun burst over the crest at dawn. Elizabeth tells me that not waking two sleeping children before dawn is equally beautiful. & she is correct...
So why is it the called "Dead Sea"? It's 423M below sea level, so any water that drains down there has no way to escape except to evaporate. This leaves the salt, which just accumulates leaving the water so saline that nothing can live there.
Will decided right away that he did not like it.
The bottom is like the inside of a crusty, hardened salt-shaker that has never been cleaned out. Don't even think about going in without foot-protection. Getting cut in this water would really be like pouring salt on your wounds...(Ha).
Floating...
Floating...
...and standing. Wildly buoyant--painfully salty.
Back at the mud-pit, Lydia exercises her singing voice & gets a surprise...
No, we don't have any idea why there is Superman statue in the background.
Getting ready to rinse off in the hot sulfur springs.
Sun, fun, & mud. This is one of those you -have-to-do-it-just-once kind of things that is totally unique to Israel & Jordan. And, thanks to that famous Dead-Sea mud, our skin looks months younger that it really is! Stand by for more on Kibbutz Ein Gedi & Masada...
Shalom Yall! E & Stew
Oh wow, that's amazing! Love the photos. I have always wanted to visit the Dead Sea.
ReplyDeleteI am digging the Superman in the background, too! So random.
This is your opportunity to make the dead sea one of the New seven wonders of nature!
ReplyDeletePlease vote on the attached link. Right now Dead Sea positioned in the top 10 candidates.
http://www.new7wonders.com/vote-2