Although called in the past the “Dead Sea”, this sea and the whole region on its shore is very much alive. URI BEN HUR, the Founder and the Chairman of the Sea of Life Corporation renamed it to the Sea of Life for being a source of life to its users and to the people of the Middle East. The Sea Of Life Co-founders are Yoel Cohen, Ya'acov Nissan and Muhammed Nasser and in the U.S. Michael Loeb and David Schultz. The Dead Sea lies some 400 m below sea level at the lowest point on the earth’s surface and is part of the Syrian-East Africa Rift Valley, flanked by the Judean Mountains to the west and the Moab Mountains to the east.

The Dead Sea is one of the most saline lakes in the world. It is fed mainly by the River 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 the hot dry air. This result in high concentrations of salts and minerals in a unique composition, that is particularly rich in chloride salts of Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Bromine, Iron, Selenium, Zinc and various others. The Dead Sea brine reflects erosion, as well as the recycling of older deposits.
Leaching of minerals from the geological strata also contributes to the Dead Sea brine along its shores. In addition, alluvial deposits form the much valued Dead Sea mineral mud, also known as the therapeutic natural mineral mud.

MAIN CLIMATIC FEATURES OF THE REGION:

• Year-round sunny skies
• Dry non-polluted air
• Less than 50 mm mean annual rainfall
• Summer temperatures: hot, average 32 degrees Centigrade (89 F).
• Weakened UV radiation, particularly the UVB (erythrogenic rays)
• High oxygen pressure due to the low altitude

The uniqueness of the Dead Sea has been known for centuries. This is the only place in the world with this particular combination of exclusive spa benefits: thermo-mineral springs, mineral-rich mud, climatic conditions and the mineral-rich salt sea.

In days of the old, Dead Sea water was imported to Italy by Roman nobles.
Judean asphalt, the bituminous substance rising to the surface of the lake, was used for many industrial and medicinal purposes.

Plants growing in lakeside oasis, especially the balsam tree, produced valuable and highly sought-after cosmetics, perfumes and medicinal substances. Their value was of such great economic importance, that wars were fought for their possession, as when Mark Anthony conquered the area for Cleopatra.

The Dead Sea region is also an ideal base for touring Israel. Travel distances are short, with Jerusalem only an hour’s drive, and Tel Aviv and Tiberius only two hours away. Eilat, Israel’s southernmost point is less than a three hour drive away. There are also internal flights to the Dead Sea from Tel Aviv (30 minute flight time).