The Levine Family Goes to Israel: The Dead Sea and Ein Gedi

At last- we go to the Dead Sea. Going to the Dead Sea is not like going to the beach on the Mediterranean or the ocean, or Lake Michigan- one place to park and slip into the water after another. This beach, along the Israeli and West Bank coast has very few beaches and accessible points. In fact, the shoreline looks nearly desolate. The air feels heavy; there seems to be a constant mist. On Tuesday, we could see the opposite Jordan shore- but, just barely- making out the mountains. On Wednesday, we couldn't see the Jordan shoreline at all.

we stop on the road to overlook the Sea and the landscape:

Some Dead Sea facts:

The Dead Sea is 67 kilometres (42 mi) long and 18 kilometres (11 mi) wide at its widest point. It lies in the Jordan Rift Valley and its main tributary is the Jordan River.

The surface and shores of the Dead Sea are 423 metres (1,388 ft) below sea level, making it Earth’s lowest elevation on land.

The Dead Sea is 377 m (1,237 ft) deep, making it the deepest hypersaline lake in the world. A hypersaline lake is a landlocked body of water that contains significant concentrations of sodium chloride or other mineral salts, with saline levels surpassing that of ocean water.

With 33.7% salinity, the Dead Sea is one of the world’s saltiest bodies of water. Although Lake Assal (Djibouti), Garabogazköl and some hypersaline lakes of the McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica (such as Don Juan Pond) have reported higher salinities.

The Dead Sea is roughly 8.6 times saltier than the ocean. This salinity makes for a harsh environment in which animals cannot flourish (hence its name). The high salinity prevents macroscopic aquatic organisms such as fish and aquatic plants from living in it, though minuscule quantities of bacteria and microbial fungi are present.

When in the Dead Sea- you can't submerse yourself- you could literally float and read a book in the water.

The Dead Sea area has become a major center for health research and treatment for several reasons. The mineral content of the water, the very low content of pollens and other allergens in the atmosphere, the reduced ultraviolet component of solar radiation, and the higher atmospheric pressure at this great depth each have specific health effects.

And now we are here- we find Mineral beach- a location here many tourists stop to soak up the health benefits; take mud baths, and sit peacefully- sort of.

We partake! Connie and Walter's bus arrives; we join together and make a significant life memory by floating together in the Sea and then, of course, covering ourselves in mud, and floating some more. Connie and I have known one another since we were 14 and 15. She is my oldest friend. She and Walter are god-parents to Reyna and Maura. we are all together. we can't believe our good fortune.

The map below gives you an idea of where we are...