Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How does the salt concentration affect the density of Dead Sea water?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Dead Sea
Salt deposits at the Dead Sea near Masada, Israel.
The high salinity of the Dead Sea significantly increases the density of its water. This elevated density is the primary reason bathers experience high buoyancy in the lake.12
The concentration of salt generally increases with depth, which contributes to the lake's stratification. Because the deep water is highly saline and dense, it remains at the bottom of the lake. Conversely, lower-salinity water, such as the inflow from the Jordan River, is less dense and tends to remain on the surface.1
Changes in salinity and temperature can alter this density-driven structure. For instance, when upper-layer waters become sufficiently saline and cool, they can become dense enough to sink, leading to an overturn—a process where the water layers mix.1