Dead Sea, Jordan and Israel

Dead Sea is fascinated by the magic and healing power to create state-of-the-art cosmetics based on the minerals, plants and aromas. Dead Sea is a marvelous pantry of sea minerals and salts is the lowest point of the planet has depth of 377 meters. Dead Sea is an incredibly beautiful oasis in the desert and mountain terrain. Dead Sea is a closed lake, which lies between Jordan and Israel, located 394 meters below the sea level. Dead Sea length is 67 kilometers and the width at the maximum point amounts 18 kilometers. It is called a hypersaline lake which has no outlet to the sea. Its healing properties entice tourists from all over the world to see the mysteriousness, legendary and truly uniqueness! Though, each year the water level decreases by 1 meter. So, specialists predict that in the coming 800 years the Dead Sea would turn into Dead Valley. Moreover Dead Sea is deepest salt lake in the world. It contains the concentration of salt and other minerals, the level of salinity of which is superior the ocean water.

The Dead Sea one of the most saline water bodies in the world (33.7%). Such a remarkably high salt concentration lets people to effortlessly float on the surface of the water in a natural way. Even a person can read a newspaper or a book, without fear to wet it. This water is not suitable for living beings, though tiny bacteria and microfungi are present here. The main tributary of the lake is the Jordan River, located above the Rift Valley area. The Dead Sea represents two reservoirs, the north one which is wider and less salty, and the south one a small, near the shores of which people extract potash, bromine and numerous salts for chemical companies that produce the world famed cosmetics.

The Dead Sea area has become a major research center in the field of health for some good reason. Because the mineral content in the water is distinctive; as no pollen and other allergens in the atmosphere, due to the large depth there is less ultraviolet in sunlight radiation and the atmospheric pressure is higher, which has a beneficial effect on the human health. A distinctive benefit of this place lies in healing mineral mud, has a wound-healing effect, strengthens hair roots, and eliminates dandruff and seborrhea. After the mud application the wrinkles are smoothed out and usually the aging course is slowed down.

Furthermore, the Dead Sea water is very effectively helps in the treatment of allergies, psoriasis, eczema, acne. It also improves the blood circulation and enhance metabolism, calms the nervous system, cleanses skin and improves its appearance and elasticity. Thus, the low humidity and high evaporation at high levels of bromide in the air proliferations metabolism, increases bronchial tubes and blood vessels, normalizes the activity of the nervous system. Hence, this combination of rich mineral water, sunlight filtered by the troposphere and dry air of the desert attracts many people. And it is far from the whole list of useful properties of this place. The water of Dead Sea is having the density of 1.240kg/L due to which swimming in Dead Sea is almost synonymous to floating. That is why it is said that nobody ever drowns in the Dead Sea. It is worthy of mentioning in this connection that the Great Salt Lake in America is also similar to Dead Sea in this respect.Source: Charismatic Planet

The Mysterious Big Circles of Jordan

Ancient stone rings in the desert have left archaeologists puzzled which is scattered across Jordan are 12 giant circular structures that can only be fully seen using aerial and satellite images. It is known as the Big Circles, range from between 720ft and 1,490ft in diameter were first spotted from the air in the 1920s. The big circles dates are not confirmed, but there is often material in or around the circles that originated in the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age (between 2,000 to 4,500BC). Moreover, a number of the circles contain later material, typically dating to the Roman period between 1st and 7th century BC.

It is also called “the vast rings” and eight big circles have been recorded in west central Jordan, between the Wadi el-Hasa and the edge of the Shara escarpment. There is a second group, made of four Big Circles just north of Azraq Oasis. Also, more Big Circle was spotted on satellite imagery in 2002 near Homs in Syria. The landscape of the Middle East is heavily strewn with circular or sub-circular stone-built structures, as most are crude circles, but numerous are clearly intended to be geometrically precise, although every so often slightly distorted typically consists of low walls of uncut boulders. Although precision of some of the circles, a swift task and would have involved around a dozen workers, perhaps an ‘architect’ would have plotted the circles using rope tied to a post in the center. Some show signs of greater care with stones at least roughly shaped and laid in courses. The circles would not have been hard to build, constructed mainly with local rocks, could potentially complete a Big Circle in a week. But the question is what was the purpose of construction big circles in a precise shape would have taken some planning. The architect could simply have tied a long rope to a post and walked in a circle, marking the ground as he or she moved around. That would also have some glitches in the circles where the land was uneven," as the architect wouldn't have been able to keep walking in a perfect circle at those spots.

Huge stone circles in the Middle East have been imaged from above, structures that have been shrouded in mystery for decades. The circles would have at first contained no openings or kinks, but a number now have routes passing through them, or contain ‘service gates.’ like circle J4, which lies 820ft east of the Desert Highway. This specific circle has five different features and seven breaks in the perimeter including drive gates, three service entrances, three drivers’ hides, seven ambush walls and two capture gates. The resemblances are ‘too close to be a coincidence but their purpose is unidentified. Thus, archaeologists need to excavate the sites to learn more about their construction and purpose. It seems unlikely that they were originally used as corrals, as the walls were no more than a few feet high, the circles contain no structures that would have helped maintain an animal herd and there's no need for animal corrals to have such a precise shape.

Wadi Mujid Jordan

Wadi Mujib historically famous as Arnon, is a gorge in Jordan actually enters in the Dead Sea at 410 meters below sea level. The Mujib Reserve of Wadi Mujid (The 220 square kilometers reserve created in 1987) is located in the mountainous landscape to the east of the Dead Sea, about 90 kilometers south of Amman. These reserves are particularly support the bird life by the Royal Society. The Mujib reserve consists of mountainous, rocky, and sparsely vegetated desert with cliffs, gorges and deep wadis cutting through plateaus. Wadi Mujib enjoys a splendid biodiversity that is still being explored and documented today. More than three hundreds species of plants, 10 species of carnivores and several species of perpetual and migratory birds have been recorded till now. Specific of the remote mountain and valley areas are tough to reach, and thus offer safe havens for infrequent species of cats, goats and other mountain animals.

During the last Ice Age the water of the Dead Sea flooded the lower areas of the canyons along its banks. As the climatic conditions changed, the water level is dropped, leaving the re-emergent canyons blocked with lake marl. However, Wadi Mujib, the biblical Arnon River, abandoned its former outlet by breaking through a cleft in the sandstone. This thin cleft became the bottleneck of an extremely large drainage basin with a massive discharge. But with the passages of time the cleft was scoured deeper and the gorge of Wadi Mujib was formed. The hot springs of Hammamat Ma'in lie close to the borders of the reserve are heavily used for tourism and recreation. While the Jordanian military have a provisional camp in the south of the reserve. A huge dam was newly finished at the bottom of the wadi, where the modern roads are crosses the river and as a result, a big lake has formed. Today, Wadi Mujib is fed by seven tributaries.

As well as resident birds, the reserve is strategically vital as a safe stop-over for the huge number of birds which fly annually along the rift valley between Africa & northeast Europe. It is possible to see the following birds in Mujib Lammergeier, Egyptian Vulture, Eurasian Griffon, Levant Sparrowhawk, Lesser Kestrel, Sooty Falcon, Sand Partridge, Hume's Owl, Hooded Wheatear, Blackstart, Arabian Babbler, Striolated Bunting, Trumpeter Finch, Dead Sea Sparrow, Tristram's Starling. One of the most important animals in Mujib is the Nubian ibex, a big mountain goat which have been threatened due to over-hunting. Despite of its scenic beauty and value to the country's heritage, the Nature Reserve of Mujib Valley is facing a new threat from the persistent problem of water. In 1998 the government approved a plan to take water from the lower Mujib River and distract its supply to hotels and the agricultural projects around the Dead Sea. This means that the river bed below the weir to be constructed is expected to be dry for most of the year, effectually killing off all the vegetation there. 

Wadi Mujib is a very uneven, warm area and the walk is easily called “an adventure walk” because it comprises swimming and hiking for extended hours in addition to descending a 20 m high waterfall. They are hard yet fun trails and one has to have the swimming abilities without any fear of water and heights. It is tough, exciting, offering a chance to swim and bathe in the cool, clear waters of the Mujib and Malaqi rivers. Tourist should anticipate climbing rocks against water flows and jumping into pools of water. So it is suggested to drinking water and takes light food for snacking during the hike and make sure to bring 2 bottles of water per person. Remember that you are going to hike and swim, so subtle items should be put in waterproof bags. 

It is highly recommended not to wear any jewelry or expensive watches. The most exciting attraction of Wadi Mujib is the adventure tour along the river an entire day trip which takes you through deep canyons and pools where you can swim and relish the remarkable scenery and wildlife. There’re shorter hikes which you can stay overnight in the wilderness campsite. Visits to the ibex breeding enclosure are included in another walk. Wadi Mujib is a pleasing place for nature lovers who are fit and like to relish walking. However; facilities are simple and it can get very hot in summer. The Wadi Mujib Trail is famous whereas pre-booking is necessary, and you can book either directly at the Reserve or by phone/fax or email directly to the RSCN.

Jerash Jordan