The Dead Sea has the world’s lowest exposed land elevation, with its surface about 430 metres below sea level.
The lake lies between Jordan and Israel and is part of the Jordan Rift Valley. It is a terminal lake, meaning that water flows in but has no natural outlet. Evaporation is intense in the hot desert climate, leaving minerals and salts concentrated in the remaining water.
Its salinity is roughly nine times that of ordinary seawater, which makes the water unusually dense and helps swimmers float. The name refers to the lake’s harsh conditions rather than to an absolute absence of life: some microorganisms can survive in its water.
The lake’s level has fallen significantly because the Jordan River and other inflows are heavily diverted. Lake Assal in Djibouti is also below sea level, but the Dead Sea is the better-known lowest exposed land point.