OtterKnow Kids EncyclopediaThe Dead Sea is one of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth. It is about ten times saltier than the ocean. The water is so salty that you float on top of it without even trying! The Dead Sea sits between Israel and Jordan in the Middle East.
The Dead Sea is the lowest place on land in the whole world. Its surface is about 1,400 feet below sea level. That means you have to go downhill to reach it. The Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea, but no rivers flow out. The hot sun makes the water evaporate, leaving all the salt behind.
- Almost nothing can live in water this salty.
- That is why it is called the “Dead” Sea!
- No fish or plants grow in it.
- Only tiny living things called bacteria can survive there.
- People love to float in the Dead Sea because the salty water holds you up like a swimming pool float.
