Famously known for its salt content, the dead sea is uninhabitable for marine life. The salt concentrate is said to be so thick that people merely float above the water, their bodies unable to drift beneath the surface.

It is an endorheic lake, meaning that no water flows out of it; it is a land locked body of water that merely collects the water from inflowing rivers or streams. It's level is equalized by evaporation so that it doesn't flood the surrounding land.

The Dead Sea is one of the world's first known health resorts and was sited in the bible as a resting place for King David because the combination of minerals in the water and the atmosphere make it a place of relaxation and rejuvenation.

Mineral salts collected from the dead sea are a popular ingredient used in various cosmetic products.