The Dead Sea.
Approximately 8.6 times more salty than the ocean. And I had no clue that it was the lowest elevation point on earth, 423 meters below sea level (the things you learn when going on a road trip!). I was tempted to see if Cedric would float as well but gnomes are after all not known for their aquatic prowess.
Contemporary beauty products and spas boast about the healing qualities of the Dead Sea but folks have known about it forever. The ancient Egyptians used it for mummifying, Aristotle wrote a note about it and countless other civilizations floated around in it and used the minerals for a myriad of causes.
There's only one small problem. The Dead Sea is dying. It is shrinking, actually. Jordan has been involved with a project to rectify this but according to an article in the International Business Times it might not be the miracle cure that will heal the Dead Sea.
I chatted with a commercial diver who was hired to do a job in the Dead Sea. I asked the obvious question of how much weight he had to bring in order to be able to sink and his reply made me envision a diver looking like the Michelin Man but instead covered head to toe in weight-belts. Bulky for sure. But that was not his biggest annoyance. The high salt content erodes dive gear like crazy (no wonder that there were no boats to be seen bobbing about! Duh.)
And apparently the worst part about diving in the Dead Sea? When your mask leaks during the job...
Approximately 8.6 times more salty than the ocean. And I had no clue that it was the lowest elevation point on earth, 423 meters below sea level (the things you learn when going on a road trip!). I was tempted to see if Cedric would float as well but gnomes are after all not known for their aquatic prowess.
Contemporary beauty products and spas boast about the healing qualities of the Dead Sea but folks have known about it forever. The ancient Egyptians used it for mummifying, Aristotle wrote a note about it and countless other civilizations floated around in it and used the minerals for a myriad of causes.
There's only one small problem. The Dead Sea is dying. It is shrinking, actually. Jordan has been involved with a project to rectify this but according to an article in the International Business Times it might not be the miracle cure that will heal the Dead Sea.
I chatted with a commercial diver who was hired to do a job in the Dead Sea. I asked the obvious question of how much weight he had to bring in order to be able to sink and his reply made me envision a diver looking like the Michelin Man but instead covered head to toe in weight-belts. Bulky for sure. But that was not his biggest annoyance. The high salt content erodes dive gear like crazy (no wonder that there were no boats to be seen bobbing about! Duh.)
And apparently the worst part about diving in the Dead Sea? When your mask leaks during the job...
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wow! did you dive in the dead sea? or will you? i guess you are in the Red Sea?
ReplyDeleteNope, I didn't dive the Dead Sea, and after talking to Sari (the commercial diver) I think I will forego the chance, hahahah!
ReplyDelete