Home / Categories / Geography / Entry 7
Geography · entry 7 of 52
The Dead Sea sits beside the lowest exposed land on the planet.
The longer version
Land below sea level forms where the ground drops into a depression and stays dry instead of flooding. This happens in a rift valley where the crust is pulling apart, letting a block of land sink between parallel faults. Water flowing in has no outlet to the sea, so it collects and evaporates, leaving salts behind.
The result is water far saltier than the ocean, dense enough that swimmers float easily. Minerals left behind are harvested for industrial use. Because the basin sits low, the air pressure is higher and the sun's rays pass through more atmosphere, which slightly reduces ultraviolet exposure.
Where this entry sits
These facts wander across maps, borders, deserts, rivers, mountains, and the extreme corners of the natural world. Each one is short and self-contained, offering a small surprise about places you may never visit rather than anything you actually need. The full list sits on the Geography page, where every entry is listed in order.
More From Geography
Eight more entriesVatican City is the smallest country in the world by both area and population.
Read 9Canada contains more lakes than any other country, according to most estimates.
Read 10The Nile is often called the longest river, though its true length is disputed.
Read 11Iceland sits on a ridge where two tectonic plates are slowly pulling apart.
Read 12Madagascar separated from the African mainland long ago, leaving its animals to evolve alone.
Read 13The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on Earth, built by tiny coral animals.
Read 14Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano that rises alone above the plains of Tanzania.
Read 15The equator crosses more than a dozen countries spread across three continents.
Read