The lowest point on earth. Located about 30 miles east of Jerusalem and shared by Jordan and Israel, it is 49 miles long and 11 miles wide, has a 1,309-foot maximum depth, and is 1,299 feet below sea level. Its salty water has a high content of minerals and other chemical elements including magnesium chloride (52 percent), sodium chloride (cooking salt, 30 percent), calcium chloride (12 percent), potassium chloride (4 percent), and magnesium bromide (1 percent). One of Israel's major industries is the extraction of these minerals from the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea has also become a major tourist attraction for both Israeli and international visitors who seek to benefit from the medicinal value of its mineral waters. The peace treaty with Jordan and interim agreements with the Palestine Liberation Organization included provisions for the joint exploitation of Dead Sea minerals and tourism ventures.
See also Economy.
Historical Dictionary of Israel. Bernard Reich David H. Goldberg. Edited by Jon Woronoff..