Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 237, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 October 1911 — DEAD SEA WATER. [ARTICLE]

DEAD SEA WATER.

Ito Density la More Than Double That of the Rod Bea. \ The Dead sea contains 23 per cent of solid matter and la bulk for bulk heavier than the human body. * Many believe that it is impossible/to swim in thia sea. and even in Jerusalem ridiculous fables are told as to the Impossibility of bathing there and that no animals or vegetation can exist near its shores. So far as swimming Is concerned, the excessive buoyancy of the water simply renders it difficult to make much headway, but a swim is both feasible and enjoyable. Care should be taken, however, not to let the water get into the eyes. Indeed, did Palestine belong to any power but Turkey probably the northern shore of the Dead sea would be a popular bathing station. No doubt the chloride of magnesia which enters so largely into the composition of the water would be found to have medicinal and curative properties. Perhaps a better idea of the density of the water of this inland sea may be realized from the following statistics: In a ton of water from the Caspian sea there are eleven pounds of salt; in the Baltic, eighteen pounds; in the Black sea. twenty-six pounds: in the Atlantic, thirty-one pounds; in the English channel, seventy-two pounds; in the Mediterranean, eigbty-flve pounds; in the Red sea. ninety-three pounds; in the Dead sea, 187 pounds.— World’s Work.