Swimming spots in Jordan

[simona]

The Dead Sea....

About 65km long and from 6km to 18km wide, the Deaed Sea is a lake with such high salinity that your body floats.

Salinity over 6 times greater than the ocean makes plant and animal life impossible, the only thing swimming in the Dead Sea are a few tourists.

Swimming here is also difficult because you are to high in the water to stroke properly, and if any water gets in your eyes, be prepared for a few minutes of agony...

[amazondk]

Thanks for the pictures. I was there once and went swimming.  It is quite and experience.  

dk

[Gbarce]

The water is pretty clear- is the water too salty for any algae or plant life to form?

[bubba]

Wow! That is really low!I think "Death Valley" in the US is only 282 below.Great shots.What are the annual extremes of the water temperature? Thank you.

[kylecawazafla]

that elevation is in meteres too! Death valley is only 86m below.

[simona]

Hi Don,

You might remember, after a dip in the Dead Sea, you found yourself coated in unconfortable encrustations of salt...a shower afterwards is vital!

An all-body 'mud pack' is reported to do wonders for your skin:

Hi Gene,

The water is pretty clear- is the water too salty for any algae or plant life to form?

Yes, The Dead Sea is one of the only seas where virtually nothing -- plants or animals -- can live. This is because it is so salty. The Dead Sea, at 1,292 feet (394 meters) below sea level, is the lowest point on Earth.

Hi Bubba,

What are the annual extremes of the water temperature? Thank you.

The water temperature goes from 19 degrees Celsius in February to 31 degrees Celsius in August.

I swam once on the 1st of January...it was asurrealistic sensation with cloudy rainy weather...

Hi kylecawazafla,

Yeah you are right! It's the lowest point on earth...

[bgl]

Simona,

Fascinating place! So, what are the surrounding areas like? No plant life at all? How far away from the Dead Sea do you have to travel to see plants (or even trees)? I assume there's next to no precipitation there?

Bo-Göran

[Scott]

Simona - Thanks you for the great shots! I've always wanted to visit that area of the world. Maybe someday

[Alicehunter2000]

It is interesting that even though there is life around steaming hot sulfer plumes at the bottom of the ocean.....that the Dead Sea would be so.......Dead. You would think something would have acclimated to the salt by now. Cool pics.

[simona]

Hello Bo-Göran,

Fascinating place! So, what are the surrounding areas like? No plant life at all? How far away from the Dead Sea do you have to travel to see plants (or even trees)? I assume there's next to no precipitation there?

Well, as you might find out, you don't have to travel very far at all to see some vegetation...

along the Dead Sea Highway are a number of upmarket pleasure palaces so opulent that they issue their own hotel maps to help guests to find their way to their rooms.

The pools and lush grounds are particulary wonderful on balmy spring and autumn days.

Shown pics have been taken at "Dead Sea Marriott Hotel"

Well, you're right, there is next to no precitipation there but it sometimes rains in showers in winter.

[simona]

Off course, everything is irrigated and water is  brought in through pipes from large reservoirs or other sources, sometimes from quite a distance.

Washis & Phoenix

Some dwarf Chamaerops

Not very interesting from the "palm point of view"...

but quite exotic thinking of the surroundings....

[smile]

Beautiful picture, s

I think I am on vacation

peter

[bgl]

Simona,

Thanks for the additional photos! All very beautiful!

Bo-Göran

[Tyrone]

(simona @ Feb. 27 2008,02:34)

QUOTE

Off course, everything is irrigated and water is  brought in through pipes from large reservoirs or other sources, sometimes from quite a distance.

Washis & Phoenix

Some dwarf Chamaerops

Not very interesting from the "palm point of view"...

but quite exotic thinking of the surroundings....

Simona, that red flowering shrub is the bottle brush. They are native to my area, and I'm not surprised that they grow so well there. They are extremely drought tolerant.  

regards

Tyrone

[simona]

Simona, that red flowering shrub is the bottle brush. They are native to my area, and I'm not surprised that they grow so well there. They are extremely drought tolerant.

Yes Tyrone, those bottle brushes really like it here, we've got those also planted in Amman and they're pretty cold tolerant. I've bought one myself a week ago.

[Kris]

Dear Simona  

lovely coverage and i was told that the dead sea is land locked pond with waters comming from the iraqi rivers emptying them selves into that huge pond..iam right ?

thanks & love,

Kris  

[simona]

Hi Kris,

"Dead Sea" is a salt lake between Palestine and Israel to the west, and Jordan to the east. The Dead Sea is 67 kilometres (42 mi) long and 18 kilometres (11 mi) wide at its widest point. It lies in the Jordan Rift Valley, and its main tributary is the Jordan River.

So, as you may notice, Iraqi rivers have absolutly nothing to do with it.

Zarqa' Ma'in river is also emptying in the Dead Sea, which is fed mainly from Hammamat Ma’in (Ma’in Hot Springs).

The springs are located 264 meters below sea level in one of the most breath-taking desert oases in the world.

These falls originate from winter rainfalls in the highland plains of Jordan and eventually feed the 109 hot and cold springs in the valley.

This water is heated to temperatures up to 63 degrees Celsius by underground lava fissures as it makes its way through the valley before emptying into the Zarqa River.

Hamamat Ma'in, the thermal mineral springs, where Herod was said to have bathed in its medicinal water, where people have come for thermal treatments or simply to enjoy a hot soak, since the days of Rome.

[Kris]

Dear simona  

lovely indepth report and the waterfalls are simply fentastic & very picturisque...

thanks & love,

Kris  

[simona]

As desert oases it surely must have some palmtrees around:

Phoenix flowering in March:

These have been planted in front of the SpaHotel, could you please identify them.

[Jason Baker Portugal]

Thanks for the pictures Simona. I went to university in Amman in the 80s. It is nice to see how things have changed in Jordan since then. The last time I was at the dead see there was only a small restaurant there. Has Aqaba changed as well? Salam Jason

[Al in Kona]

Simona,  I'm enjoying your photos immensely, there's a lot of biblical history in that area.  Some beautiful spots that you are showing us.  I'd guess you could cultivate some delicious dates (Phoenix dactilifera) in some of those areas - do they grow them commercially there?

That grouping of palms you asked about in the last photo of Post #19 are Roystonea (Royal Palm) - most likely Roystonea regia.  They appear to have been planted fairly recently with minimal new leaf growth.  Perhaps the dry atmosphere is not to their liking either.  Hope you will continue showing us more of Jordan.

[simona]

Has Aqaba changed as well? Salam Jason

Salam Jason!

Yes Aqaba changed a lot and has big plans for the future. Several new 5star hotels are planned for the southern coast, including the huge Tala Bay resort and condo project. The Ayla Oasis project to the northwest of town involves the creation of lagoons 9adding 19 km to Aqaba coastline), a marina, hotels and a golf course, shopping and restaurant complex.

Now that the top-end resorts have gobbled up most of the public beaches, there isn't really the place for swimming any more....

if you want to bare some skin nowadays, you are better off at a (not cheap at all) private beach...

[simona]

Red Sea beach:

...it's a great place for diving and snorkelling

[DoomsDave]

Simona!

Salam!

Keep the pictures coming!

[simona]

(Al in Kona @ Mar. 04 2008,04:17)

QUOTE

 I'd guess you could cultivate some delicious dates (Phoenix dactilifera) in some of those areas - do they grow them commercially there?

Hello Al in Kona,

Yes, there are some great Phoenix plantations here which export Medjool and Barhi dates.

Here, for example: http://datesofjordan.com/ReadPaner.php?id=1

....Thanks for identifying the "Roystonea (Royal Palm) - most likely Roystonea regia"  :laugh:

[simona]

(Al in Kona @ Mar. 04 2008,04:17)

QUOTE

Simona,  I'm enjoying your photos immensely, there's a lot of biblical history in that area.  

Special...for Al in Kona ...

One of Jordan's biblical sites is Bethany-Beyound-The-Jordan (Al-Maghtas), the 'Baptism Site', has been identified by archeologists as the place where John the Baptist preached, where Jesus was baptised by John, where the first five apostles met ....

The Jordan River....is not what one would imagine ... ??? ...in reality a brown sludgy mess:

Facing off across the river (and the border) is a rival Israeli baptism complex:

This is the only place where civilians can touch the river:

[simona]

Getting back to palmtrees....at Bethany:

It is believed that it was from here that, the prophet Elijah (who was born in Mar Elias, north of Jordan) ascended to heaven in a whirlwind:

[tikitiki]

(Gbarce @ Feb. 25 2008,06:39)

QUOTE

The water is pretty clear- is the water too salty for any algae or plant life to form?

green Dunaliella may be the only algae that lives there and mostly on the surface with none below 100m. Halotolerant red bacteria, which can survive in water with a moderate salt concentration (at least 150 grams of sodium chloride), are found at the northern end where fresh Jordan River mixes with Dead Sea water.

[Jason Baker Portugal]

Wow Simona,

Aqaba used to be small too. There were only 2 hotels: the aqaba and i think the other was aqua marina or something like that. There were only a couple of restaurants there. One of my fav´s was Shu? shu?´s. Have they built up saudi beach as well? I used to go snorkeling there. Yes snorkeling and scuba diving is fantastic there.

Jason

[simona]

(Jason Baker, Portugal @ Mar. 07 2008,17:28)

QUOTE

Have they built up saudi beach as well? I used to go snorkeling there. Yes snorkeling and scuba diving is fantastic there.

Jason

Hi Jason,

I believe you refere to south of Aqaba, about 18 km to the Saudi border at Ad Durra. Much of the coastline is taken up by the massive port facilities, but there are a few beaches, as well as some excellent diving and snorkelling spots.

[Jeff in St Pete]

Simona,  thanks for the information and beautiful pictures of a part of the world that I know very little about.  Very interesting stuff!

[Kim]

Simona, I appreciate the pictures.  They are revising my mental picture of Jordan -- looks beautiful and lush, not bone dry as I imagined.

[8er-moni]

Dear Simona!

I found these fotos today - and I remember the time, we spent together in autumn 2008, very often - it was great and unforgettable!!!!!!!

Simona told me in many "lessons", as my husband and I where planning the 3-weeks-trip - where to go and what to do (or what not to do ).

Thank you very much for your and your familiy time!!!!!

[simona]

Gern geschehen, liebe Moni!

[smile]

dear Simona

in August we go on holiday to Taba Egypt

from there, I would like to Petra in Jordan you have tips for us

last year we also taba, and the dead sea in israel had been good since

So now we want to petra we try to Jordan three days to go

peter

[Jeff Searle]

Simona,

I just noticed this topic for the first time as well. What a fascinating place, rich in history and culture. The Dead Sea has always interested me. The hotel swimming pools look beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing all of your pictures and informative information.

Jeff

[simona]

Hello Peter,

You've chosen a very hot summertime for your holiday. As well as Taba in Egypt and Petra in Jordan will jump well over 30 Celsius during the day in August.

I suppose you are sailing from Taba port/Egypt to Aqaba port /Jordan by ferry (about 45 min) then take a car or by bus to Petra (about 1.5 hours).

If you have any particular questions about your 3 day stay in Petra, I'm here to help.

Hi Jeff, glad you liked it.