Dead Sea
In ancient times, the Dead Sea water and salt were imported to Italy, by Roman nobles, asphalt, the bituminous substance rising to the surface of the lake, was used for many industrial and medicinal purposes. Plants growing in lakeside oases, especially the balsam tree, produced valuable and highly sought after cosmetics, perfumes and medicinal substances. Their value was of such great importance, for wars that were fought for their possession, as when Mark Anthony conquered the Dead Sea area for Cleopatra. It is said that the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra had some factories there for manufacturing of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Also, the Arab Nabateans used to supply Egyptian’s with bitumen, which was essential factor for mummification for the Pharos of Egypt.
The Dead Sea is one of the most saline lakes in the world. It is fed mainly by the River of Jordan in the North and by perennial springs and streams from the East and West. Having no outlet, the Dead Sea is a terminal lake which loses huge amounts of water by evaporation into hot dry air. These results in high concentrations of salts and minerals in a unique composition that is particularly rich in chloride salts of magnesium, sodium, potassium, calcium, bromide and various others. The water of the Dead Sea contains 21 minerals. Twelve of these are found in no other sea or ocean and some are recognized for imparting and for easing metabolic disorders, circulatory system, and rheumatic disease comfort. The high salt and mineral concentration enables everyone to float in its waters but doesn’t allow the proliferation of fish and other marine life.
Sunshine is filtered through the low situation of the Dead Sea [additional 408 meters of air]. This vapor serves as an additional filter to sunshine nature filter the [UV] ultra-violet ray is reduced as well as [UVB] rays responsible for the sunburn therefore are adequate for solar therapy which constitutes a basic element of climate therapy is available in the area. The unique sun rays increase the specific spectrum of the ultra-violet radiation provides unusual therapeutic properties which impact on a number of skin diseases.