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David Harris

SALT OF THE EARTH. The Dead Sea is the saltiest body of water on earth. More than 30 percent of the water consists of various salts, making its salinity ten times higher than the Mediterranean Sea. The sea is called Yam ha-Melech (“the Sea of Salt”) in Hebrew and since ancient times has been an abundant source of this essential commodity. The salt formations in the photograph, taken decades ago, can no longer be seen today; these and similar formations have disappeared as less water flows into the lake and the lake level has fallen.