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Along the Dead Sea

Along the Dead Sea / © Foto: Haupt and Binder, Universes in Universe

Along the Jordanian Dead Sea shore

The Jordanian shore of the Dead Sea is a fascinating natural, cultural, spiritual, and therapeutic landscape.

The Dead Sea, an interior hypersaline lake of 80 km length, lies about 430 meters below sea level, which makes its shores the lowest point on earth. It is also considered the largest natural spa in the world, for its healing properties renowned since Antiquity.

Dead Sea salt formation
© Photo courtesy of VisitJordan

Its geographic position on a major trade crossroads, the rich alluvial soils, and the availability of water from perennial springs facilitated human settlements, creating a rich cultural heritage that has spanned more than 10,000 years. The area along Jordan's southeast Dead Sea coast, known today as the Southern Ghor, is believed to have been home to the five "Cities of the Plain" mentioned in the Old Testament: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim, and Zoar.

In the Bible, the Dead Sea is referred to as the "Sea of Salt," and Arab writers call it the "Sea of Lot," after Abraham's nephew, whose wife is said to have turned into a pillar of salt at the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Ship transporting salt on the Dead Sea. Part of the Madaba Map, the world famous mosaic map of the Holy Land from the 2nd half of the 6th century.
© Photo: Haupt & Binder, Universes in Universe

During the late Pleistocene, between 70,000 and 12,000 years ago, it was part of Lake Lisan which extended up to the Sea of Galilee. When the climate became more arid, the lake began to dry up, creating the Dead Sea that we know today, an interior salt lake only fed by the Jordan River and few minor springs.

Its water, nine times saltier than the ocean, is known for being rich in healing and relaxing properties. It's salinity is so high that it makes you float effortlessly atop the water surface, a truly unforgettable experience.

The Northern shore offers a well-developed hotel infrastructure with spa services, including massages, aromatherapy, mud wraps, fresh water pools, and more, also open for day-use.

Floating on the Dead Sea
© Photo courtesy of VisitJordan

Sites to visit

From the River Jordan to its southern end, the Dead Sea is easily accessible on good roads from different directions and regions of Jordan. While most of the hotels are clustered along the north shore, the sightseeing attractions and cultural sites are located towards the southeast.

Dead Sea Panoramic Complex and Museum overlooking the Dead Sea. On the right, the construction of a hotel resort with facilities in form of pyramids. On the Dead Sea's other shore (Israel), the skyline of Jerusalem.
© Photo: Haupt & Binder, Universes in Universe

Dead Sea Panoramic Complex and Museum

© Photo: Haupt and Binder, Universes in Universe

Taking the road up in direction Madaba and Ma’in, after 9 km you will reach the Dead Sea Panoramic Complex. Managed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) overlooking the Dead Sea, it houses a museum with information on the geology, wildlife and cultural history of the area, as well as a restaurant with outdoor dining terraces, and conference facilities.

The view from the terrace of the Dead Sea Panoramic Complex and Museum is breathtaking
© Photo: Haupt & Binder, Universes in Universe

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Ma'in Hot Springs

© Photo: Haupt and Binder, Universes in Universe

Hammamat Ma’in is a beautiful oasis, where hot spring waters (45°C to 60°C) descend from the rocks to form natural thermal pools.

The main attraction is an approx. 25 m high cascade pouring over yellowish-green siliceous deposits which illustrates the high mineral content of the Hot Springs, whose healing properties for rheumatism, skin diseases, etc. are enjoyed by local and foreign visitors in the bathing facilities and a spa hotel. From the Dead Sea Museum, it can be reached following the same road (Ma’in Street) and turning right after 2,5 km.

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Machaerus

© Photo: Haupt and Binder, Universes in Universe

King Herod's citadel on the Jordanian shore of the Dead Sea is one of the few places in the Holy Land mentioned in the New Testament Gospels that could be clearly identified by archaeological findings, and partly reconstructed using original architectural elements.

Machaerus was part of the kingdom of Judea from the first century BC through the first century AD. It is the place where Salome danced for her step-father, Herod Antipas, who then fulfilled her wish to have John the Baptist beheaded and his head presented on a platter.

The walk uphill from the parking is well worth the effort, as the reward is a true biblical site and spectacular views of the Dead Sea, Palestine and Israel.

From Ma'in Hot Springs follow the main road south, approx. 10 km
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Special presentation ►

Wadi Mujib

© Photo: Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN)

Bordering the Dead Sea, the Mujib Biosphere Reserve surrounds Wadi Al Mujib, a deep and narrow gorge that cuts through scarped ranges, draining into the Dead Sea. Close to the highway's Mujib bridge is the Visitor’s Centre of the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), designed by award-winning Jordanian architect Ammar Khammash. It is the starting point of all adventure activities, including several of the most spectacular wet and dry trails to explore Wadi Mujib. For safety reasons, the Wadi is usually only open from April to end of October.

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Statue of the Wife of Lot

© Photo: Haupt and Binder, Universes in Universe

Not to be missed is a view of the rock formation overlooking the highway and Dead Sea, said to be the remains of the salt pillar that was Lot’s wife. "However, as they were leaving the burning city of Sodom, Lot’s wife disobeyed God’s order not to look back and was turned into a pillar of salt." (Genesis 19:26).

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Southeastern shore of the Dead Sea

The region called Southern Ghor - known as the lowest land in the world - comprises a number of wadis that run from east to west. The seasonal waterways have brought rich sediments from the highlands, spreading them at the mouth of the wadis. These triangle-shaped deposits are called or alluvial fans or "ghors." Wadi al-Hasa, with the most constant and reliable water source bringing rich alluvial soils has formed the as-Safi plain, where agriculture and human settlements have been traced for over 12,000 years.

View of the Dead Sea's Southern Ghor. In the foreground, the Museum at the Lowest Place on Earth.
© Photo: Haupt & Binder, Universes in Universe

Museum at the Lowest Place on Earth

Opened to the public in 2012, it displays the archaeological heritage and material culture of the Southern Ghor, the southeastern shores of the Dead Sea. Highlights of the Museum are the findings from archaeological excavations of the Sanctuary of Lot at Deir ‘Ain ‘Abata, as well as the Nabataean exhibits of the cemetery at Khirbet Qazone. Both excavations were directed by Dr Konstantinos D. Politis.

© Photo: Haupt and Binder, Universes in Universe

From the 1st cent. BC to the 2nd cent. AD, the Nabataean domain extended to the shores of the Dead Sea, where they cultivated palms for dates and balsam plants for perfume oil, and collected valuable salt and bitumen. Among the ancient sites unearthed by archaeologists in this region, stands out the cemetery of Khirbet Qazone, which included well preserved textiles, and even a Nabataean mummified body, now on display at the Museum at the Lowest Place on Earth.

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Special presentation ►

Lot's Cave

© Photo: Haupt and Binder, Universes in Universe

The Sanctuary of (Saint) Lot at Deir ‘Ain ‘Abata ("monastery at the Abata spring" in Arabic), dated to the 5th-7th centuries AD, is one of the most important Byzantine sites in Jordan. It was a monastic complex with a triple apsed basilical church built around a natural cave, in which Lot and his daughters are said to have taken refuge after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19.) From the Museum at the Lowest Place on Earth, a road leading up to the site, and a stairway to the church facilitate the access.

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Special presentation ►

Sugar Factory. Masna‘ as-Sukkar, as-Safi

© Photo: Haupt and Binder, Universes in Universe

The Sugar Factory in the town of as-Safi, from the 11th – 15th Cent AD, is the largest of such factories identified in the area. During the Ayyubid/Mamluk period, sugar production was very important in the Dead Sea region. Dozens of sugar factories were built near towns with availability of freshwater sources year round. After crushing the sugarcanes, a complicated chemical process of boiling and purifying the raw sugar juices took place. At Masna‘ as-Sukkar, bilingual signs help visitors discover its history, as well as understand the sugar production process.

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Location, access:

Dead Sea – Jordan
The Dead Sea is easily accessible on good roads from different directions and regions of Jordan. While most of the hotels are clustered along the north shore, the sightseeing attractions and cultural sites are located towards the southeast.

Distances to the Dead Sea:
Amman - northern end: 50 km
Aqaba - southern end: 220 km


© Texts and photos are protected by copyright.
Compilation of information, editing, translations, photos: Universes in Universe, unless otherwise indicated


See also in Art Destination Jordan:

Web guide for cultural travellers - a wealth of information and photos.

Contemporary art, archaeology, art history, architecture, cultural heritage.

Supported by
Jordan Tourism Board

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