The lowest point on earth

            Earth's lowest point on dry land   

Dead Sea, the warm home away from home, one of the most spectacular natural and spiritual landscapes in the whole world, the lowest body of water on earth, the lowest point on earth and the world’s richest source of natural salts, hiding wonderful treasures which accumulated throughout thousands of years. At 431 m below sea level, the Dead Sea is a body of intense blue water, polished smooth like oiled skin on a windless day in winter and ruffled into whitecaps by the summer winds. Salt-encrusted rocks at the surface of the Dead Sea, whose banks are Earth's lowest place on dry land. The highest point on Earth's surface is the top of Mount Everest, which towers more than 29,000 feet (8,800 meters) above sea level. But the lowest spot on dry land are the banks of the Dead Sea in the Middle East. These lie about 1,300 feet below sea level, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

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 banks of the Dead Sea are the lowest point on dry land but not the deepest point on Earth's surface. That distinction belongs to the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, a point in the Pacific Ocean which is about 35,876 feet [10,935 m] below the planet's surface. The precise depth of the Dead Sea's surface can vary daily. According to NASA, on a hot, dry summer day, the water level can drop as much as 1 inch (2 to 3 cm's) because of evaporation. During most of the 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 which gives the area a strange and surreal sense. As its name evokes, the Dead Sea Jordan 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.

The Dead Sea, which is not really a sea but a large saltwater lake, is 47 miles (76 km's) long and up to 11 miles (18 km) wide. The "Dead Sea" was named by monks, who noticed that life seemed to be absent from the salty water, NOAA noted. And because the salt content is four times that of most world’s oceans, you can float in the Dead Sea Jordan 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 which are essential for the health and care of the body skin including Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium, Bromine, Sulphur 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. 

The Dead Sea lies along the Dead Sea Fault, which spans about 600 miles (1,000 km) from the Red Sea to the Taurus Mountains in Turkey and started forming nearly 20 million years ago, according to a 2006 study. The fault helps form the boundary between the African tectonic plate to the west and the Arabian one to the east. NASA notes that the Dead Sea lies in the Great Rift Valley, which is currently ripping the African continent apart. A unique combination of several factors makes Dead Sea Jordan’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. "The Dead Sea fault is primarily a transform fault, similar to the San Andreas Fault in California, where two plates are moving next to each other," Rob Pockalny, an associate marine research scientist at the University of Rhode Island, said.

The Dead Sea northern and larger part is very deep, reaching at one point a depth of 430m (1320 feet). The southern bay is, on the contrary, very shallow, averaging hardly a depth of 4m (13 feet). The water level of the Dead Sea is dropping by about a 30cm. (1 foot) per year. It is being diverted by Israel and Jordan for industry, agriculture and household use. Scientists predict that the sea may be dried up by the year 2050. Both sides of the fault are moving northward, "but the eastern side moves a bit faster, about 5 millimeters [0.19 inches] per year," marine geophysicist Zvi Ben-Avraham, director of the Minerva Dead Sea Research Centre at Tel Aviv University in Israel, said. In comparison, "the San Andreas Fault moves 10 times faster." Never attempt to swim stomach-first. Your feet will be higher than usual and your head will be lower than usual. Never let the water touch your lips, nose or ears. There will be extreme pain which could cause you to panic and attempt to swim naturally, and dead sea will not allow you to swim normally. Enter the sea within a controlled environment, better with a lifeguard watching within a hotel’s restricted area. Nestled high above the shimmering waters of the Dead Sea, the Jordan Panorama Complex offers visitors an unparalleled view of one of the world’s natural wonders. Managed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), this extraordinary destination combines breath taking landscapes with rich cultural heritage, making it a must-visit for nature enthusiasts and history buffs alike.

The complex isn’t just about the views. It houses a well-curated museum which delves into the geological and ecological significance of the Dead Sea region. Visitors can explore interactive exhibits which give details about the formation of this unique body of water, its historical significance and the diverse flora and fauna that inhabit the area. Previously, researchers suggested the Dead Sea formed essentially because of a zigzag in the Dead Sea Fault. If the Dead Sea Fault was perfectly straight, one side could slide relatively smoothly next to the other. However, if the fault had a zigzag in it, then as one side slid past the other, a gap would form in the zigzag area where both sides of the fault were pulling apart. Such a "pull-apart basin" could have steep walls, helping to explain why the Dead Sea is so low in elevation. However, the standard model of pull-apart basins suggest they become long before they become deep. In contrast, the basin of the Dead Sea is significantly wider than it is deep, Ben-Avraham said. The sediment which makes up the floor of the southern Dead Sea "extends down close to 15 km's [9.3 miles], and that part of the basin is only about 10 km's [6 miles] wide."  Instead, Ben-Avraham and his colleagues suggest the Dead Sea is a "drop down basin." As both sides of the fault slid past each other, they spread apart a bit, "but then an isolated chunk of basalt detached from them and dropped down starting about 4 million years ago," Ben-Avraham said. "So the Dead Sea basin became deeper while its other dimensions stayed fixed."

The Dead Sea Panorama Complex was developed with the support of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). The JBIC provided financial assistance through loans, which played a crucial role in the establishment of this impressive facility. The collaboration between JBIC and the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) helped bring this project to fruition, enhancing tourism infrastructure and promoting environmental conservation in the Dead Sea region. Determining which model of the Dead Sea's formation might be correct is challenging "because these motions are very slow," Ben-Avraham said. "Understanding what is going on in this part of the crust in real time is very, very difficult and expensive." If you are looking for an educational adventure, the Dead Sea Panorama Complex promises a memorable experience. Open year-round, it’s an accessible gem which invites you to discover the wonders of Jordan’s natural and cultural heritage.