Dead Sea, JordanDeep in the Jordan Valley and 55 km southeast of
Amman, is the Dead Sea, one of the most
spectacular natural and spiritual landscapes in the whole world. It is the
lowest body of water on earth, the
lowest point on earth, and the world's
richest source of natural salts, hiding wonderful treasures that accumulated throughout thousands of years.
To reach this unique spot, the visitor enjoys a short 30 minutes drive from
Amman, surrounded by a landscape and arid hills, which could be from another planet. En route a stone marker indicates "
Sea Level", but the Dead Sea itself is not reached before descending another 400 meters
below this sign.
The sunset touching distant hills with ribbons of fire across the
waters of the Dead Sea brings a sense of unreality to culminate a day's
visit to this region. It is normally as calm as a millpond, with barely a
ripple disturbing its surface, but it can become turbulent. During most
days, however, the water shimmers under a beating sun. Where rocks meet
its lapping edges, they become snow-like, covered with a thick,
gleaming white deposit that gives the area a strange and surreal sense.
As its name evokes, the Dead Sea is devoid of life due to an extremely high content of
salts and minerals which gives its waters the renowned curative powers, therapeutic
qualities, and its buoyancy, recognized since the days of Herod the
Great, more than 2000 years ago.
And because the salt content is
four times that of most world's oceans, you can float in the Dead Sea without even
trying, which makes swimming here a truly unique experience not to be
missed: here is the only place in the world
where you can recline on the water to read a newspaper.
Scientifically speaking, its water contains more than
35 different types of minerals that are essential for the health and care of the body skin
including Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium, Bromine, Sulfur, and Iodine.
They are well known for relieving pains and sufferings caused by
arthritis, rheumatism, psoriasis, eczema, headache and foot-ache, while
nourishing and softening the skin. They also provide the raw materials
for the renowned Jordanian Dead Sea
bath salts and
cosmetic products marketed worldwide.
A unique combination of several factors makes Dead Sea's
total attraction:
the chemical composition of its water, the filtered sunrays and
oxygen-rich air, the mineral-rich black mud along the shoreline, and the
adjacent fresh water and thermal mineral springs.
Although
sparsely populated and serenely quiet now, the area has a historical and
spiritual legacy of its own. It is believed to be the site of
five biblical cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zebouin and Zoar.
A
series of new roads, hotels and archaeological discoveries are
converging to make this region as enticing to international visitors
today as it was to kings, emperors, traders and prophets in antiquity.
Seaside
facilities include modern hotels with therapeutic clinics and
restaurant/bathing/sports complexes, meeting the needs of day visitors
or parties wishing to spend the night amidst one of the most dramatic
and moving landscapes in the World.
If you Smahtwa girls spoke English