Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is an inland lake lying 400m (1320ft) below sea level in the lower part of the Jordan Valley, it has more minerals and salt than any other body of water in the world and is renowned for its rejuvenating and health-giving properties. Other interesting sights around the Dead Sea include Mount Sodom, a 13km- (8 mile-) long mountain range made up of pure salt which has many caves with extraordinary hanging salt formations, and Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls, written by Essene scribes, were discovered in ancient pottery jars. Masada (Mezada) - is on the left bank of the Dead Sea on a clifftop, where the once luxurious palace of King Herod still stands (and site of the famous seige). It can be reached by cable car or a winding footpath and there is a breathtaking view of the Dead Sea and the pink mountains of Moab from here.