Page 128 - Super Earth Encyclopedia

GLITTERING DEEPEST

SALT LAKE T LAKE

DEAD SEA SAL

Occupying a deep depression near the eastern
shore of the Mediterranean, the salt lake known as
the Dead Sea is the world’s lowest point on land.
River water flowing into the lake evaporates in the hot,
dry climate before it can flow out again, and as the
water vapor rises into the air it leaves salty minerals
behind. Over thousands of years these have built up
to create some of the saltiest water on Earth. The lake
is called the Dead Sea because nothing can live in it,
apart from a few specialized salt-loving microbes.

AT A GLANCE

• LOCATION Jordan Valley, bordered
by Jordan, Israel, and Palestine
• LENGTH 31 miles (50 km)
• WIDTH 9 miles (15 km)
• DEPTH 997 ft (304 m)

STATS AND FACTS

SHRINKING LAKE SALT CONTENT
The Dead Sea has Due to reduced The Dead Sea
formed in a deep flow in the river is almost ten
valley created by a feeding it, the times as salty
gigantic fault that lake’s water level is as seawater.
divides two plates falling every year.
of Earth’s crust. TEMPERATURE DENSE WATER
WATER WORLD LAKE SURFACE air temperature very high salt

The Dead Sea’s
On average, the
content enables
stays above 86°F
swimmers to
(30°C) for six
float effortlessly.
months a year.
1,407
FEET
(429 M)
BELOW SEA
126 LEVEL

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