Swimming in the Dead Sea

Leonardo Hotel at the Dead Sea

After a hot day of exploring in the desert, we were anxious to check in to our new hotel (see above) on the Dead Sea. Our room on a top floor had a spacious balcony which afforded us a lovely view of the Sea below. We quickly changed our clothes and headed to the beach to meet our friends and to enjoy a quick, late afternoon dip in the Dead Sea.

Our Family and Dear Friends Floating in the Dead Sea

What a wonderful, amazing feeling. The water is almost oily in consistency (due to the rich mineral content) and you can't help but float. In fact, as soon as you are submerged in the water you pop up like a cork on a fishing line! We were "warned" of the dangers of trying to swim as it is quite difficult to upright yourself if you become prone. We also heard that the salt and minerals of the dead sea are so potent, that they can actually be toxic if you stay in too long, and you must avoid getting them in your mouth and eyes at all costs. (Note to self: Shaving your legs before entering the salty dead sea is also a really bad, bad idea!)

I enjoyed the water - the temperature was perfect, the "texture" of the water was soothing, and the pace of the beach was quiet and calm. Everyone was just peacefully, effortlessly bobbing up and down in the water, reading or quietly chatting. Noise and boisterous behavior is greatly frowned upon - a much different atmosphere from our American Beaches. Many Europeans visit the Dead Sea - and stay there for long periods of time. Their medical system will pay (socialized medicine) for some patients to convalesce in these hotels along the Dead Sea. While I am NOT for socialized medicine, I would like for some doctor to prescribe a month of leisurely dipping in this body of water!

Leonardo Club, Dead Sea - Private Beach/Spa

The salt covers the bottom of the Sea, like the sand we are used to. If you reach down and grab a handful, you can see the salt crystals that make up the infamous Dead Sea. You had to be careful as you walked so you wouldn't stub your toe or cut your foot. Some of the salt had formed rather large and sharp formations, almost like boulders of salt, and these were scattered haphazardly among the smooth salty bottom. We were all trying to grab some samples with our feet to bring to the surface in order to take home to friends. (Quite a feat due to the buoyancy factor.) Some older ladies nearby fussed at members of our group saying that if everyone took salt home, they would run out. I highly doubt that - there is so much of it. In fact, down the shoreline, they "harvest" this Dead Sea Salt to sell for use in various skin care products.

While I didn't partake of the spa treatments available, it involved being covered in some of the warm mineral muds from head to toe, allowing that to dry on your skin, and then rinsing off in the Dead Sea. :) Maybe next time....

Reflections of the Jordanian Hills Across the Dead Sea as the Sun is setting

After a pleasant time of enjoying the benefits of the mineral waters of the Dead Sea, we showered off and headed back to our hotel. While we enjoyed the private beach of the Leonardo Club, our hotel, the Leonardo Dead Sea, was located across the street and up on a hill. We missed the last taxi back to our hotel and so the walk was a bit strenuous after our very long and busy day of sightseeing.

Our dinner was delicious, and again, the view of the Dead Sea from the many windows in the restaurant was so relaxing. The water in the hotel is not potable (drinkable) and so there are signs everywhere warning you to avoid swallowing the water there. Their water sources were contaminated by the minerals of the Dead Sea and were not drinkable. They did provide water coolers of potable water in the halls outside our rooms with little paper cups for us to use while brushing our teeth and such.

The dryness and heat of the desert is amazing. I laid my still sopping wet clothes (the ones I was wearing during my baptism in the Jordan earlier in the day) over the chairs on the balcony in hopes they would dry. Dry, they did! When I returned from our dip in the Dead Sea an hour or two later, my skirt, and shirt and everything was completely dry and as stiff as a board. Wow!

View from our balcony of the Dead Sea and the Sister Hotel Across the Street, The Leonardo Club

 Interesting Facts about the Dead Sea:

1. The Dead Sea is really a kinder term for the Hebrew word, Yam ha Maved, which translates, "Killer Sea".

2. The Dead Sea has no swimming, creeping, or crawling creatures living near or in its waters. Anything coming in contact with its poisonous waters quickly dies (save a bacteria or two).

3. The Dead Sea is the lowest place on earth. The surface of the Sea is 1300 feet below sea level, while deeper parts of the Sea are over 2300 feet below sea level.

4. The Dead Sea contains some of the most saline water on the earth. 35% of the water is dissolved salt!

5. The Dead Sea is six to ten times saltier than the ocean! (Depending on the depth - the deeper the water, the more intense the salt content is.)

6. The salts found in the Dead sea are mineral salts in extremely high concentrations (not table salts).

7. The high level of Mineral Salts found in the water affect its density and cause our bodies to be more buoyant than in regular water.

8. The Dead Sea is land locked and the only water that leaves the Dead Sea is through evaporation.