If you want to float effortlessly, head to the Dead Sea, where the water is so salty you don’t even have to try! With a salt content around 10 times higher than the ocean, this famous lake (yep, it's actually a lake!) is a natural wonder. But why is it so salty? Let’s dive in!

The Dead Sea is a terminal lake, meaning water flows in but doesn’t flow out. The only way water leaves is through evaporation, and in the region’s hot climate, that happens fast! As the water evaporates, it leaves behind minerals, mainly salt, which builds up over time. Think of it like adding salt to a pot of water without ever pouring it out—that’s what’s happening here!

For millions of years, the Dead Sea has been collecting minerals from rivers, making it saltier and saltier. With a salinity of around 33%, you can float on the surface as if you’re lounging on a water mattress.

What’s wild is that the Dead Sea is shrinking—less fresh water flows in, making it even saltier! Life can’t survive in these harsh conditions, except for a few hardy bacteria. No fish, no seaweed—just a natural salt bath that even plants can’t handle.

Despite this, people love the Dead Sea for its therapeutic mud and waters. Tourists flock to float effortlessly and slather themselves in its mineral-rich mud, famous for being great for the skin.