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Dead Sea

 

Welcome to one of the most unique places on earth. At 400 meters below sea level, inspired by the awesome Mountains of Moab to the East, and the Judean Mountains to the West, you find tranquility, health, and peace of mind in a landscape like no other on earth!

Experience the breathtaking beauty of The Dead Sea area, with its wonderful nature reserve hikes, flowing streams and waterfalls, unique health enhancing properties, first class hotels, convention and recreational facilities and of course the experience of The Dead Sea itself. Even in the middle of winter, the Jerusalem tourist can jump in the car, and within 40 minutes, they hit the Dead Sea in all its splendor.

The Dead Sea ( Yum Ha Melach in Hebrew ) is 75km long, ranges from six to 16 km wide and has no outlet. The high salt content makes any plant and animal life impossible. The high concentration of salt has nothing to do with it being below sea level, but rather is caused by the high evaporation rate, which has, over the years, led to the build up of salts.

The Dead Sea is known for its unique climatic conditions. Firstly, the area has 330 sunny days a year. There is less than 50mm annual rainfall. Low humidity with dry air and constantly high temperatures are known to soothe the symptoms of asthma, cystic fibrosis and certain lung diseases.Sunlight at the Dead Sea is high in therapeutic UVA rays and low in burning UVB, so extended exposure is safe and low-risk. The filtering effect comes from a thick atmosphere: the Dead Sea is about 1,200 feet below sea level and the ozone layer above it is minimally depleted.
The Dead Sea is the only place on earth where you can sunbathe for extended periods with little or no sunburn because harmful ultraviolet rays are filtered through three natural layers: an extra atmospheric layer, an evaporation layer that exists above the Dead Sea, and a rather thick ozone layer. It is recommended, however, that guests to the Dead Sea maintain careful and progressive exposure to the sun.

Thermo-mineral Springs
Found in several locations along the Dead Sea shores. The many minerals contained in the warm water are dominated by sulfur. Soaking in the heated sulfur pools activates the circulatory system and increases the oxygen supply to the body.
Benefits from Dead Sea bathing are attributed to a natural tar in the water, and also to high levels of minerals that may affect how the rate of skin cell growth. Dead Sea mud is considered helpful in two ways: the dark mud helps UV light get absorbed, and mud packs stimulate blood circulation around joints affected by psoriatic arthritis.

A unique chemical composition of Chloride, Bicarbonate, Sulphate, Sodium, Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium endows the Dead Sea with considerable curative properties.


Dead Sea Psoriasis & Arthritis Treatment
A growing number of studies attest to the success of treatment in the Dead Sea. Three of the largest reviewed studies involved psoriasis patients on a regimen of incrementally increasing sun exposure (usually up to a maximum of six hours a day) and bathing in the Dead Sea (usually up to one hour a day). A beneficial effect-ranging from marked improvement to complete clearing-was achieved in a range of 81-88% of patients.

The water of the Dead Sea is effective in healing allergies, psoriasis, eczema and purulent rash. They also help in blood circulation and improvement of metabolism relaxes the nervous system, clean the skin and improves its outer appearance and its elasticity.
Gargling water in the mouth helps to heal rhinitis and laryngitis. Mineral mud from the Dead Sea heals wounds, enlivens the hair roots and eliminates seborreic dermatitis and dandruff. Mud spreading helps to straighten wrinkles and aging process of the skin retardant. Healing influences of the mud on migraines and headaches have been seen. Spreading mud on the joints and spines has healing influence for different diseases: arthritis, bone and cartilage inflammation, myelitis, neuritis, rheumatism, psychological stress, fatigue and sleeplessness.

King David, King Herod, Jesus, and John the Baptist were closely linked with the Dead Sea and its surroundings. The prophets knew it via the infamous Sodom and Gomorra. During the Egyptian conquest it is said that Queen Cleopatra obtained exclusive rights to build cosmetic and pharmaceutical factories in the area. Later on, the wily Nabateans discovered the value of bitumen extracted from the Dead Sea needed by the Egyptians for embalming their mummies. . Aristotle wrote about the remarkable waters. In Roman times the Essenes settled in Qumran on the Dead Sea's northern shore as a place of refuge and on the heights of Masada a small group of rebellious Jewish zealots held out against the might of the Roman Legion. The remoteness of the region attracted Greek Orthodox monks since the Byzantine era. Their monasteries such as Saint George in Wadi Kelt and Mar Saba in the Judean Desert are places of pilgrimage. Bedouin tribes have continuously lived in the area and more recently explorers and scientists arrived to analyze the minerals and conduct research into the unique climate. Since the 1960s, tourists from all the over world have also explored the Dead Sea region.

Less than an hour's drive from The Northern tip of The Dead Sea lies Jerusalem. Jerusalem, resting in the Judean Hills, provides the visitor with both a breathtaking and spiritual experience never to be forgotten. Steeped in history for the world's three main religions, visitors to the city attest to its uniqueness, and an ambience that sets it aside from every other city on earth. The walls of the old city glow with 2500 years of history, for Jews, Muslims, and Christians alike. In the alleys of The Old City, you will feel as if you have gone back to an ancient time. Yet not five minutes away, you will enjoy an enchanting neighborhood built in the late 19th century - Yemin Moshe - a picturesque neighborhood of homes, artists' studios and art galleries. Named after Sir Moses Montefiore, it was built as the first neighborhood outside the walls of Jerusalem's Old City.

Two and a half hours South of The Dead Sea lies the Red Sea Port of Eilat, the city of eternal sunshine. There you can bathe on the beach, swim with dolphins or snorkel in the coral reef among stunningly beautiful fish. Eilat is a paradise for sea-sports fans who enjoy diving, water skiing, swimming and boating. It also has all the amenities of a modern resort - luxury hotels, fine restaurants, bars, pubs, nightclubs, an international airport.

Alternatively, you can turn North, and drive up The Jordan Valley to the City of Tiberias on the shores of The Sea Of Galilee. Today Tiberias and the surrounding shores of the Sea of Galilee is a year-round vacation spot. The Sea of Galilee offers every conceivable water sport. Its 32 mile shoreline abounds with natural trails, hills to climb and caves to explore.
Tiberias is famous for its hot springs and health resorts.

One of Israel's top tourist attractions is the mountaintop fortress of Masada. established by King Herod as his winter palace in 35 BC, Masada was heroically defended by a small group of Jews who eventually chose to commit mass suicide rather than surrender to The Roman army. One wonders whether such an act today would be labeled as heroism or as an acct of madness carried out by a fanatic cult. Masada offers breathtaking views over The Dead Sea and Judean desert. A cable car runs up to the fortress (for many, more interesting than the archeological site itself!) , or the more adventurous can walk up The Snake Path. Be sure to take plenty of water, a hat, and comfortable shoes. Masada lies 18km North of Dead Sea Hotels' area. A natural amphitheatre on the West side of the mountain is the setting for a spectacular Sound and Light Show. Catching Masada at sunrise is a worthy goal!

A short distance from the hotels on The Dead Sea, you can visit "Flour Cave", a 30 meter underground passage created by water erosion of the soft limestone located West of Mount Sodom.

Ein Gedi Nature Trails- highly recommended
There are endless trails in The Dead Sea area, yet most people choose the Nahal David trail. It begins by the Dead Sea, and moves into the mountains, winding up into the hills passing several beautiful water falls and pools. Swimming is permitted in all these pools. The more adventurous can bring sandals along and follow the trail in the water. The scenery is wonderful, and the experience unforgettable. The Nahal Arugot trail is for the fitter tourists, and some trails can take up to 6 hours. Take plenty of water, and always wear a hat. There is a small fee to enter ( about 4 dollars), but it is worth every cent.

The Dead Sea Scrolls
A fascinating archeological find was discovered in The Caves Of Qumran in 1947. A Bedouin shepherd stumbled upon what turned out to be the oldest biblical documents ever found. The Dead Sea Scrolls trace the history and daily lives of the mystical Essenes, a Jewish sect that fled Jerusalem 2000 years ago. The scrolls, initially discovered in clay jars now have a resting place at The Israel Museum in Jerusalem. Excavations at the site offer an insight into the life of this ancient culture.