死海(しかい)は中東(ちゅうとう)にある塩湖(えんこ)で、イスラエルとヨルダンに囲(かこ)まれています。湖面(こめん)の海抜(かいばつ)は地表(ちひょう)で最(もっと)も低(ひく)く、マイナス430mに位置(いち)しています。この地域(ちいき)はかつて海(うみ)で、後(あと)に海底(かいてい)隆起(りゅうき)が起(お)きて現在(げんざい)の地形(ちけい)が形成(けいせい)されました。湖(みずうみ)の水源(すいげん)はヨルダン川(がわ)で、年間(ねんかん)の降水(こうすい)量(りょう)が極端(きょくたん)に少(すく)ないため、湖水(こすい)が蒸発(じょうはつ)して塩分(えんぶん)が濃縮(のうしゅく)された状態(じょうたい)が続(つづ)いています。そのため、死海(しかい)は非常(ひじょう)に高(たか)い塩分(えんぶん)濃度(のうど)(33%)を持(も)っています。The Dead Sea is a salt lake in the Middle East, bordered by Israel and Jordan. Its surface elevation is the lowest point on Earth's land surface, situated at -430 meters (-1,412 feet) below sea level. This region was once a sea, and the current topography was formed later by seabed uplift. The lake's water source is the Jordan River. Due to the extremely low annual rainfall, the lake water continuously evaporates, causing the salt content to become concentrated. Consequently, the Dead Sea has a very high salt concentration.
死海(しかい)は中東(ちゅうとう)にある塩湖(えんこ)で、イスラエルとヨルダンに囲(かこ)まれています。湖面(こめん)の海抜(かいばつ)は地表(ちひょう)で最(もっと)も低(ひく)く、マイナス430mに位置(いち)しています。この地域(ちいき)はかつて海(うみ)で、後(あと)に海底(かいてい)隆起(りゅうき)が起(お)きて現在(げんざい)の地形(ちけい)が形成(けいせい)されました。湖(みずうみ)の水源(すいげん)はヨルダン川(がわ)で、年間(ねんかん)の降水(こうすい)量(りょう)が極端(きょくたん)に少(すく)ないため、湖水(こすい)が蒸発(じょうはつ)して塩分(えんぶん)が濃縮(のうしゅく)された状態(じょうたい)が続(つづ)いています。そのため、死海(しかい)は非常(ひじょう)に高(たか)い塩分(えんぶん)濃度(のうど)(33%)を持(も)っています。The Dead Sea is a salt lake in the Middle East, bordered by Israel and Jordan. Its surface elevation is the lowest point on Earth's land surface, situated at -430 meters (-1,412 feet) below sea level. This region was once a sea, and the current topography was formed later by seabed uplift. The lake's water source is the Jordan River. Due to the extremely low annual rainfall, the lake water continuously evaporates, causing the salt content to become concentrated. Consequently, the Dead Sea has a very high salt concentration.
The water of the Dead Sea has a salt concentration of approximately 30-34%, which is much higher than that of normal seawater (about 3%). For this reason, the water's density and buoyancy are very high, so much so that a person can easily float in it.
Environment Unsuitable for Life
Due to the high salt concentration, there is very little confirmed survival of organisms such as fish in the Dead Sea. This is the origin of the name "Dead Sea." However, the presence of some green algae and halophilic archaea (salt-loving microorganisms) has been confirmed.
Water Supply and Maintenance of Salinity
Since no rivers flow out of the Dead Sea, the water evaporates under the hot and dry climate, which raises the salt concentration. The dissolution of salt from the surrounding soil by rainwater and its concentration in the downstream lake is also one reason for the formation of a salt lake. Furthermore, salt is supplied by the Jordan River and surrounding hot springs.
Types of Salt
The water of the Dead Sea contains many types of salt besides sodium chloride, and it is particularly rich in substances like magnesium chloride. This is why the water has a strong bitter taste.