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Zenger
Zenger
Environment
Abigail Klein Leichman

The Dead Sea Tops Natural Wonders As A Healing Destination

A Dead Sea bather covered in its mineral-rich mud.  (Drew Gilliam/Unsplash)

Salt may be tough in a diet, but it is a critical restorative element in skin care.

That’s why Travel + Leisure’s top 10 list recommends the Deal Sea as its No. 1 healing destination around the world for 2022.

This unique body of water, bordered by Israel and Jordan at the lowest point on Earth, is called the Salt Sea in Hebrew. It is the deepest hyper-saline lake in the world, 27 times denser than Utah’s Great Salt Lake. Even the air here is especially healthy.

The serene beauty of the Dead Sea, coupled with its healthy properties, attracts visitors worldwide. (Flickr)

Here’s what the international travel magazine had to say about its choice of the Dead Sea:

“Besides being absolutely breathtaking, this landlocked salt lake has long been touted for its health-giving properties. From slathering the black mud over your skin for exfoliation and alleviating skin conditions like psoriasis, to its professed natural power to remedy asthma, arthritis, osteoporosis, and other issues, the body of water also boasts a low content of pollen and other allergens.

“Another unique feature? At 400 meters below sea level, harmful UV rays are filtered through an evaporation layer above the Dead Sea, the ozone layer, and an extra atmospheric layer. This is said to mean that sunbathers can absorb the beneficial effects of vitamin D from the sun’s rays, without risk of sunburn and ensuing skin damage.”

Dead Sea salt is great for your skin — it can boost skin health, as well as treat various health conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease where your body’s immune system attacks your own systems. It can cause inflamed joints and damage to other parts of your body, like your eyes, skin, and heart, according to WebMD.

Research has found the magnesium salts in Dead Sea water can enhance skin health by treating inflammation.Dead Sea salt, used as bath salts, can be added to a bath. Soaking in the tub can help alleviate many symptoms of various diseases.

Travel + Leisure notes that Cleopatra is believed to have “journeyed here with her ancient Egyptian entourage to bathe in the waters and let the gentle waves work their magic. This healing ritual continues to modern times, as countless wellness seekers arrive at this site to pile on the storied mud.”

The waters of the landlocked Dead Sea are especially soothing for a host of skin and joint conditions. (Flickr)

Aside from the lovely scenery and special properties of the Dead Sea, Travel + Leisure also cited other natural wonders. The magazine noted forest bathing in Yakushima Island, Japan; The Healing Hole, Bimini, The Bahamas; and Taos, New Mexico’s Ojo Caliente, one of America’s oldest resorts and the only hot springs in the world with four different types of sulfur-free mineral waters.

T+ L also singled out Spotted Lake, British Columbia, Canada, as a worthwhile journey. The town of Osoyoos is home to the mineral-rich Spotted Lake, known to the First Nations People of the Osoyoos area as Kliluk, a sacred healing spot that’s been used for centuries.

Produced in association with ISRAEL21c.

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