The lowest lake in the world

Jordan's western border is home to a unique geographical feature: the Dead Sea. The Jordan River separates the country from Israel and runs from the Hermon Mountains in the Lebanese-Syrian border region to the Dead Sea. South of the great lake, the Jordan Rift Valley merges into the Arabah Depression, which ultimately ends in the Red Sea, but does not carry water due to its higher elevation. The Dead Sea is therefore endorheic, meaning that it has no outlet. Its surface is 430.5 m (1,412 ft) below sea level, and its deepest point is 728 m (2,388 ft) below sea level. It is the lowest lake in the world, and its shore is the lowest point on the earth's surface. 

Exceptional salinity

The Dead Sea is known for its extremely high salt content, which, at over 30%, is almost ten times higher than in the oceans. Due to the resulting higher density of the water, people cannot sink while swimming. Another consequence of the high salt content is the absence of fish or other animals, which is how the lake got its name.

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