Dead Sea, salt lake, c.390 sq mi (1,010 sq km), extending c.45 mi (70 km) in the Jordan trough of the Great Rift Valley between the Ghor on the north and Wadi Arabah on the south, on the border between Israel and the West Bank (W) and Jordan (E). The shore of the Dead Sea, historically about 1,295 ft (395 m) below sea level but now some 50 ft (15 m) lower, is the lowest dry point on earth.

Situated between steep, rocky cliffs, 2,500 to 4,000 ft (762–1,219 m) high, the sea is divided by the Al Lisan peninsula into two basins—a larger northern basin c.1,300 ft (400 m) deep, and a smaller, shallow southern basin, now separated from the northern basin and divided into salt ponds. The lake is fed by the Jordan River and a number of small streams; it has no outlet. Because it is located in a very hot and dry region, the Dead Sea loses much water through evaporation; its level fluctuates during the year. Inflow has been greatly reduced by the increased use of the waters of the Jordan for irrigation, and water levels are falling.

One of the saltiest water bodies in the world, the sea supports no life. It yields large amounts of mineral salts; potash and bromine are commercially extracted. The ancient cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were on the southwestern shore; present-day Sodom is the site of mineral-salt extraction works. The Dead Sea coast in Israel is the site of beaches, spas, and tourist hotels. Biblical names for the Dead Sea include Salt Sea, East Sea, and Sea of the Plain.

Dead Sea

Arabic Al-Bahr al-Mayyit Hebrew Yam Ha Melah ancient Lacus Asphaltites

Landlocked salt lake between Israel and Jordan. The lowest body of water on Earth, it averages about 1,312 ft (400 m) below sea level. It is 50 mi (80 km) long and up to 11 mi (18 km) wide. Its eastern shore is Jordanian, while the southern half of its western shore is Israeli; the northern half of the western shore is within the West Bank, occupied by Israel since the Six-Day War (1967). The Dead Sea lies between Judaea to the west and the Transjordanian plateaus to the east; the Jordan River flows in from the north. It has been associated with biblical history since the time of Abraham.

Dead Sea

a lake between Israel, Jordan, and the West Bank, 417 m (1373 ft.) below sea level; originally 390 m (1285 ft.): the lowest lake in the world, with no outlet and very high salinity; outline, esp at the southern end, reduced considerably in recent years. Area: originally about 950 sq. km (365 sq. miles); by 2003 about 625 sq. km (240 sq. miles)

dead sea [¦ded ′sē]

(hydrology)

A body of water that has undergone precipitation of its rock salt, gypsum, or other evaporites.

Dead Sea [¦ded ′sē]

(geography)

A salt lake between Jordan and Israel.