What is the lowest point on Earth's land surface?

The lowest point on Earth’s dry land surface is the shore of the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea lies in the Jordan Rift Valley, between Jordan, Israel, and the West Bank, more than 400 metres below mean sea level.

The Dead Sea is a landlocked, endorheic lake, meaning that water flows into it but has no outlet to the ocean. Intense evaporation leaves behind dissolved minerals and salts, producing water far saltier than ordinary seawater. That high density makes it unusually easy for swimmers to float, although the water can irritate the eyes and open cuts.

Its level is not fixed. Since the mid-20th century, diversions from the Jordan River and declining water inflow have caused the lake to shrink and its shoreline to fall. In 2025, the surface was reported at about 439.78 metres below sea level, making the exact elevation a time-sensitive figure.

A technical distinction sometimes causes confusion: the lowest exposed dry land is associated with the Dead Sea shore, while the deepest bedrock point beneath an ice sheet is in Antarctica. For a standard geography quiz asking about Earth’s lowest land surface, “Dead Sea” is the canonical answer.