Sodom
Archaeological Site Salt-rich basin by the Dead Sea, biblical region
On the western shore of the Dead Sea, the area associated with Sodom includes Mount Sodom’s salt formations and low-lying saline plains. Tourists combine visits with Dead Sea excursions, geological features and historical-biblical interest.
Sodom is the name used for the ancient/biblical settlement traditionally associated with the area near the southern portion of the Dead Sea in the Southern District of Israel. The name is best known from biblical accounts and later traditions linking it to destruction narratives.
Modern scholarship does not have a single agreed archaeological identification for the biblical city, and several nearby sites have been proposed and debated. The surrounding landscape includes saline flats and geomorphological features linked to the Dead Sea region rather than a single continuous urban site.
References to the name are primarily historical and textual; on-the-ground interpretation draws on archaeology, geology and comparative study of ancient settlement remains. The site lies in the broader arid environment adjacent to the Dead Sea basin.
- Biblical association: Associated with the biblical city named in ancient texts, though its exact archaeological identification and precise historical location remain subjects of scholarly debate.
How to Get to Sodom #
The area traditionally called Sodom lies on the southern part of Israel’s Dead Sea shore and is reached by road along Highway 90, which runs the length of the western Dead Sea coast. Drive along Route 90 from Arad or from the Jerusalem area (via Route 1 then local roads) to reach Dead Sea access points such as Ein Bokek and nearby sites; regional buses also run along Highway 90 to Dead Sea resorts and settlements - from the roadside parking or bus stop most points of interest are a short walk.
Tips for Visiting Sodom #
- Visit early morning or late afternoon to avoid the extreme midday heat typical around the Dead Sea area-temperatures and sun exposure can be intense.
- Use the main north-south Dead Sea road (Route 90) to reach viewpoints and official access points, and park only in designated car parks or marked pull‑ins.
- If exploring geological features (salt formations, caves or sinkholes), go with a local guide and heed safety warnings-ground can be unstable around some salt cliffs and sinkholes, and access is often restricted for safety reasons.
Best Time to Visit Sodom #
Best visited outside midsummer-autumn through spring (October-April) offers much more comfortable temperatures than the very hot summer months.
Weather & Climate near Sodom #
Sodom's climate is classified as Hot Desert - Hot Desert climate with very hot summers (peaking in July) and mild winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 11°C to 38°C. Very dry conditions with minimal rainfall with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 20°C and lows of 11°C. Light rainfall.
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February
February is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 13°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 16°C. Light rainfall.
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April
April is warm with highs of 29°C and lows of 19°C. Almost no rain.
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May
May is warm, feeling like 28°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.
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June
June is hot, feeling like 32°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.
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July
July is the hottest month, feeling like 35°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.
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August
August is hot, feeling like 36°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.
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September
September is hot, feeling like 33°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.
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October
October is hot, feeling like 28°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.
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November
November is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 17°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.
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December
December is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 12°C. Light rainfall.
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