Dead Sea

Lying in the Jordan Rift Valley, this stunning quirk of nature is one of the world's most-visited destinations. The Dead Sea, known for its saline-rich waters, covers a surface area of 605 square kilometers (234 square miles), and is considered to be the deepest hypersaline lake in the world. Such is the prevalence of salt in its staggering sprawl (34.2%), that it is absolutely non-conducive to the growth of living organisms, giving the sea its rather gloomy name. The sea's incredibly buoyant waters attract scores of visitors each year to float in its mineral-rich waters; in fact, the Dead Sea was one of the first-known natural health resorts in the world. There are several places of interest scattered around the lake as well, including the Qumran caves where the Dead Sea scrolls were found, the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve with its exquisite wildlife and the historical Roman Fortress of Masada.