The Dead Sea should really be called the "Living Sea" for it has generated a feeling of well being, health, energy, emotional calm and beauty amongst tens of thousands of tourists and health spa enthusiasts from around the world who have visited over the past decades.

A Mini Universe at the Lowest Point on Earth
The Dead Sea is a unique geological phenomenon. Situated in the heart of the Great Syrian-African rift valley at the lowest point on - more than 400 meters (1,320 feet) below sea level, it is recognized as well as mini universe with its own micro-climate. Less than an hour's drive from Jerusalem, the Dead Sea is also a sea of peace joining Israel and Jordan. The rift containing the Dead Sea is flanked by the Judean Mountains to the west, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Mountains of Moab to the east, the Jordan Valley and Sea of Galilee to the north and the Negev Desert and Red Sea to the south.
The climate at the Dead Sea is dry and comfortable most of the year in addition to a low rainfall in winter (see table).

The four elements sunshine, air, water and earth (mud) combine to create a unique "Natural Health Spa" and micro-climate, not to be found anywhere else in the world.

Sunshine that is different, the least harmful on earth
The Dead Sea is blessed with an average of 330 days of sunshine per year. But that's not all. Dead Sea sunshine is filtered through three natural layers: 400 meters of extra atmosphere, a dense haze of aerosols caused by evaporation from the Dead Sea and an ozone layer. Together these layers act as a unique filtering screen that reduces the radiation intensity of UVA rays and more important the shorter, harmful UVB rays. Several years of climatic data recordings shows that at the Dead Sea, compared with other locations, there is a significant reduction of UVB rays (10%), below a wavelength of 310 nm (nanometer) and UVA (3.6%). This phenomenon enables safer exposure to the sun with a minimized risk of side effects. In other words, hours of sunbathing are accompanied by a reduced risk of sunburn damage and the development of skin cancers when considering equivalent exposure times in similar weather conditions elsewhere. Exposure to solar irradiation is the most important therapeutic factor for skin diseases in the Dead Sea treatment.

Extraordinary Air
There are several important factors that make the air at the Dead Sea area so unique:

• Located 400 meters below sea level, the Dead Sea area has the world's highest recorded barometric pressure resulting in 6-8% higher oxygen saturation than the air at sea level.
• The air along the shores of the Dead Sea is rich in assorted minerals caused by evaporation of Dead Sea Water, especially magnesium and bromine whose relaxing effects help reduce nervous tension.
• The climate of the Dead Sea is dry and comfortable most of the year in addition to a low rainfall in winter (see table).
• The air at the Dead Sea is virtually unpolluted and low in pollen. The paucity of allergens is due to the sparse vegetation, the desert hinterland and the absence of heavy industry producing CO2.
• All of these conditions provide an ideal natural environment for sufferers of respiratory disorders like asthma, chronic lung disease, cystic fibrosis and heart diseases.

 
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