Dead Sea Lake

Address: Dead Sea (Jordanian shore access varies by public beaches and resort facilities along the Jordanian side)

The Dead Sea is a hypersaline lake bordered by Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west, famous for its extremely high salt and mineral content and for providing effortless buoyancy. It is the lowest exposed point on Earth’s land surface.

Visitors come to float in the dense water, to use the mineral-rich shoreline mud for skin treatments, and to visit resort and spa facilities along the shores. The lake’s chemistry and geology also make it a subject of scientific and environmental interest as water levels have declined in recent decades.

The Dead Sea has been used for millennia for its salts, bitumen and therapeutic properties, and it appears in numerous ancient texts and trade records. In modern times it is developed for tourism on both the Jordanian and Israeli/Palestinian shores, with multiple public and private beaches and spa resorts.

Geographically the Dead Sea lies in the Jordan Rift Valley, south of the Sea of Galilee and east of the Mediterranean; Amman is the closest major Jordanian city within roughly an hour’s drive to the north.

• Lowest terrestrial elevation and salinity: Situated at the lowest land elevation on Earth, roughly 430 metres below sea level, the Dead Sea’s high salinity makes swimming equivalent to floating and supports little marine life.
• Therapeutic mud and resorts: Mineral-rich black mud along the shoreline is a popular therapeutic treatment offered by resorts and public beaches on both sides of the lake.

What to See#

• Lisan Peninsula: Lisan Peninsula - a prominent salt and marl ridge that extends into the Dead Sea and divides its northern basin from the southern basin.
• Resort and beach areas: Resort and public beaches on both the Jordanian and western shores where people access the water for flotation, therapeutic mud and spa facilities.

Jordan’s Dead Sea shoreline is accessed from Amman via the Dead Sea Highway (the coastal road along the lake). Drive or take an intercity bus from Amman to the Dead Sea resorts (the journey is roughly 50-60 km depending on your start point); follow the Dead Sea Highway to resort entrances and public beaches.

• Use the Jordanian public beaches (around Sweimeh/Amman Beach) early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid peak local and tourist crowds and to get calmer water for floating.
• Choose a managed public or resort beach if you want showers, lockers and paved access-these facilities make rinsing off salt and changing easier than the smaller ungated spots.
• Avoid shaving before entering and keep your head and eyes above water; the high salinity stings fresh cuts and eyes, and most visitors find short rinses with fresh water immediately after floating makes re-dressing and travel more comfortable.