The Dead Sea is nearly ten times saltier than normal ocean water. All that salt makes the water incredibly dense and thick, which is why your body pops up to the surface like a cork. No fish or plants can live in water this salty - that is how it got its name - but the shore is ringed with beautiful date palms and the water itself sparkles a brilliant turquoise-blue.
The mud at the bottom of the Dead Sea is rich in minerals and has been famous for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians and Roman traders came from far away to collect it. Today, people still scoop the dark mud onto their skin, let it dry in the sunshine, and then rinse off - the minerals leave skin feeling very smooth.
Because the Dead Sea is so far below sea level, the air above it is thicker and filters out more of the sun's harmful rays than anywhere else on Earth. This means you can sit in the sun there for longer without burning as quickly. Scientists study the Dead Sea to learn about extreme environments, and some use the very salty water to grow special plants and crystals in laboratories.