The Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, is also known in Hebrew as the Sea of Salt (Yam Ha-Melakh) and is surrounded by the beauty of the Negev Desert. The saline water of the Dead Sea is unable to sustain life; however, it is renowned for its healing and health-giving properties. One can also float naturally on the surface of the salty water. Actually just a lake and not a sea, the Dead Sea makes up part of the border between Israel and Jordan, whose towering mountains are visible from both Jordan and Israel.
Both tourists and locals drive and fly to the Dead Sea to get a few days of relaxation and experience the healing properties of the mineral-rich mud and salty waters. Aside from the Dead Sea, the next great attraction is Masada. Atop a mountain, this ancient fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and can be reached by a newly installed cable car. Ein Gedi National Park, situated in the Kibbutzim South, contains cool water hiking trails that allow hikers to cool off when the temperatures soar. The higher you go, the quieter the area becomes.
Kibbutz hotels in the area include Almog at the north end of the Dead Sea, Kalia on the northern shore of the Dead Sea, and Ein Gedi located directly on the shore of the Dead Sea.
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