Dead Sea

I feel as though I should begin every blog entry with 'What a perfect day…', and this really was. We traveled to the Dead Sea this afternoon, one of the things I had most been looking forward to this trip, and yes, it lived up to my expectations. Floating in water that salty is a pretty unbelievable experience (but be cautious, as it hurts like hell if you get it in your eyes), and since we splurged for the paid beach, we spent the remainder of the afternoon swimming in the pool. Ah, bliss :)

Random facts about the Dead Sea:
○ The salt content of the Dead Sea is 31%, or nine times that of the ocean
○ At 408m below sea level, it's the lowest spot on earth
○ Egyptians used mud from the Dead Sea in their mummification process
○ As a result of the sea's high evaporation rates, the air layers above it are thicker than normal, reducing the strength of the UV rays in the surrounding area
○ Mud and minerals from the Dead Sea have been used to treat a variety of diseases, including psoriasis, herpes, and joint infections, and some insurance companies in the region actually cover Dead Sea treatments for people who suffer from these conditions