Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Dead Sea
9
The Dead Sea (which is actually a lake, not a sea)
lies half in Israel, half in Jordan. It is 76 km (47 miles)
from north to south and less than 16 km (10 miles)
across. At 411 m (1,348 ft) below sea level, it is also the
lowest point on earth. The water is so mineral-laden
that it is around 26% solid. The therapeutic qualities of
the water and its mud have been touted since ancient
times, and spas are dotted along its shores. However,
the Dead Sea is endangered. Its water level has gone
down 12 m (40 ft) since the beginning of the 20th
century because its main source, the Jordan River,
has been over-exploited for irrigation purposes.
VISITORS' CHECKLIST
30 km (18 miles) E of Jerusalem.
@
from Jerusalem for Qumran,
Ein Gedi, Masada and Neve
Zohar; from Amman for Amman
Beach, Dead Sea Panorama and
Wadi Mujib Nature Reserve.
Dead Sea Panorama
Tel
(03) 231 3059.
#
7:30am-
4:30pm daily.
&
Wadi Mujib
Nature Reserve
Tel
(03) 231
l
3059.
& 8
compulsory.
www
.
rscn.org.jo
Qumran
Dead Se
discover
L
Amman beach
A public beach with
A
howers. There are also
several resort hotels a
tle to the north, where
you pay for access to
their private beaches.
Ein Gedi
The most pop
with bathers,
a beach 1 km
south of the N
(see p196)
, w
necessary to
lake's salty re
L
d Sea Panorama
ookout, restaurant
museum complex
h breathtaking views.
Masada
Herod
mountain-top
overlooking th
Sea
(see pp200
L
ujib nature reserve
sanctuary that also has
d trails, some of which
ading through partially
ed canyons. Bookings
trails must be made in
rough the Wild Jordan
in Amman
(see p214)
.
L
Ein Bokek
A waterside s
A
with hotels, a
and sanatoriu
make good u
Dead Sea mu
Major road
ternational border
each
Viewpoint
Neve Zoh
hot-sprin
J
0 miles
10
