|
|
The Dead Sea
& Masada
The Dead Sea
After a morning in Masada, go to the Dead Sea and relax. And there is no need to
swim... USYers float on top of the water. This body of water lifts you up above its
surface.
The Dead Sea, in fact, is dead - it harbours no living flora or fauna. But for
thousands of people from all over the world who come to get a cure at one of its spas,
this body of water spells health and quality of life.
The Dead Sea is a terminal lake some 80 km long, 17 km wide, and 330 meters deep at
its deepest point. It is fed by waters from the Jordan River to the north, from a few
perennial springs, and from flash floods. The Dead Sea contains a high concentration of
salts and minerals - calcium, potassium, magnesium, and bromine - more than in any other
body of water on the face of the earth (in fact, seven or eight times more than in the
oceans).
The area boasts dry, virtually non-polluted air, warm temperatures, and minimal
rainfall all year round. The healing formula is a combination of natural elements: sea,
sun, air, and mud. The Dead Sea waters, the sunlight with its ultraviolet radiation
weakened by filtering through the air to a region 400 meters below sea level,
therapeutic mineral mud, high barometric pressure with consequently high oxygen content,
and sulfur pools - all this is highly beneficial to people suffering from a variety of
skin, rheumatic, arthritic, and pulmonary diseases. And the combination is unique - it
exists solely at this spot on the globe.
For more information on the Dead Sea:
Masada
USYers wake up nice and early to witness a beautiful sunrise over Masada.
Everyone gets plenty of exercise climbing Masada, and then relaxes with
the amazing view at the top.
Masada is a mountaintop fortress located in Israel on the western shore
of the Dead Sea. The name Masada is derived from the Hebrew word "metzude,"
which means "the mountain castle" or "stronghold." At
Masada's top are the remains of elaborate buildings built by Herod the Great
during his reign in the 1st Century B.C.
Masada is a symbol of freedom and courage to Jews because of its history,
specifically the events of the Jewish revolt against Rome in the 1st Century
C.E. Today, Masada is a popular tourist attraction because of its intriguing
structures, beautiful view, and mysterious history. It is situated on the
top of an isolated rock on the edge of the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea
Valley, about 25 km south of Ein Gedi. It is directly opposite Mt. Moab
in Jordan. As a result of its location, the climate at Masada is extremely
dry, whichi has well preserved some of the artifacts. The top of Masada
is a diamond-shaped plateau and is 1,900 feet long and 650 feet wide, covering
a total of 23 acres. Masada rises 1,300 feet above the Dead Sea. The top
of Masada can only be reached by two natural approached: a "snake path"
on the east face and the "White Rock" path on the west face.
For more information on Masada:
Below you will find pictures of USYers at the Dead Sea, Ein Gedi, and Masada.
=> Back to the Map
|
|
|
