What is the lowest land-based elevation on Earth?

The shore of the Dead Sea is the lowest land-based elevation on Earth.

The Dead Sea is a landlocked, hypersaline lake in the Jordan Rift Valley, bordered by Jordan, Israel and the West Bank. Its surface and shores lie hundreds of meters below global sea level because the lake occupies a deep tectonic depression with no outlet. As of 2025, the lake surface was about 439.78 meters below sea level, making its shores the lowest exposed land on the planet.

The exact number is not fixed. Water diversion from the Jordan River, evaporation and regional water use have caused the lake to shrink and its level to fall steadily. Earlier references often quote approximately 430 meters below sea level, while newer measurements are lower. The answer therefore identifies the place, not a permanent elevation figure.

A common confusion is Lake Assal in Djibouti, which is Africa's lowest point and one of the world's lowest lakes. Death Valley is the lowest point in North America, but it is not the global record-holder. The Dead Sea is also among the saltiest major bodies of water, allowing swimmers to float unusually easily.