!!!Dead Sea, Ein Bokek

Photos by [Dmitry Moiseenko|https://www.facebook.com/dmitry.moiseenko] and
Ivan Roslyakov
members of the [AirPano Team|Geography/About/Consortium/AirPano,_Team] that is a member of the [global-geography Consortium|Geography/About/Consortium]. \\

28 August 2019

with kind permission of [AirPano|http://www.AirPano.com]

Dead Sea, Ein Bokek, Israel

In the world, there are around 80 seas connected to the ocean, and
several endorheic basins that are traditionally called "seas". And among
them, there is one of the most famous seas bearing a rather sinister
name, the Dead Sea. Its shores and surface are 430.5 metres below sea
level, being the Earth's lowest elevation on land.

[{Image src='01_ds.jpg' caption='Dead Sea, Ein Bokek, Israel\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false'}]

The name the Dead Sea is rather young. It has settled in Russian,
English and other languages, but the Hebrew name for it is the Sea of
Salt. The Greeks called it Lake Asphaltites, and, in the Bible, it is
mentioned as the Eastern Sea.

[{Image src='02_ds.jpg' caption='Dead Sea, Ein Bokek, Israel\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false'}]

It has become a "sea" because of its giant sizes: its surface is around
810 km2, maximum depth is 298 m, the water volume once was 325 km3.
Unfortunately, nowadays it has declined to 147 km3 with a surface of 605
km2. For the previous century, the water level had dropped by 25 m, and
this destructive process goes on.

[{Image src='03_ds.jpg' caption='Dead Sea, Ein Bokek, Israel\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false'}]

Only the "gloominess" of the sea has stayed unchanged: the concentration
of salt is so high that almost no living organism can survive here. With
a salinity of 342 g/kg or 34.2%, it is 9.6 times as salty as the ocean.
But in fact, the sea can't be called totally lifeless: with the
development of the technologies, scientists have discovered the presence
of certain bacteria and microbial fungi. But indeed, neither dolphins
nor different fish and marine species can survive in such conditions.

[{Image src='04_ds.jpg' caption='Dead Sea, Ein Bokek, Israel\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false'}]

Salty water is rather dense: it is hard to sink here as the body is
always pulled up to the surface. Another unique feature of the Dead Sea
is its chemical compound. There are many other salt lakes in the world,
but this one is exceptionally rich with mineral substances. The waters
of the Dead Sea contains a great amount of chloride, potassium, calcium,
sodium, magnesium and different microelements with health properties.

[{Image src='05_ds.jpg' caption='Dead Sea, Ein Bokek, Israel\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false'}]

The Sea is fed by the Jordan River, freshwater springs and mountain
flows that contain salty mud. These substances cover the shores and
people have long noticed their rejuvenating and healing effect. The
Roman gladiators are believed to have healed their wounds with the mud
of the Dead Sea.

[{Image src='06_ds.jpg' caption='Dead Sea, Israel\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false'}]

Nowadays the area of the Sea is divided between Israel and Jordan.
Numerous resorts function here and welcome people coming from all over
the world for rehabilitation and unusual swimming. Close to Ein Gedi
Nature Reserve, there is one of the most famous resorts called Ein
Bokek.

[{Image src='07_ds.jpg' caption='Dead Sea, Ein Bokek, Israel\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false'}]

Ein Bokek holds one of the world's records. It is the lowest settlement
on the planet with an altitude of 420 below sea level! Comfortable
hotels, sandy beaches and fantastic views will touch even the most
insensible tourist. AirPano strongly recommends visiting this remarkable
resort while we will show you its beauty in our 360° panoramas.

[{Image src='08_ds.jpg' caption='Dead Sea, Ein Bokek, Israel\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false'}]

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[12 panoramas of Dead Sea|Geography/Asia/Israel/Pictures/Dead_Sea]

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