Dead Sea salt keeps your body afloat

Seriously, it's so salty your body just floats. No sinking allowed here

By Smartasaurus· 1 min read Curious

You're essentially a human cork the moment you step into the Dead Sea

Difficulty rating

How hard do you think this was for science to crack?

The answer says more about you than about the discovery.

The short version

Seriously, it's so salty your body just floats. No sinking allowed here
You cannot perform a traditional swimming stroke because your limbs pop out of the water like inflatable toys.
However, this density has a dangerous side effect: if you do manage to flip onto your face, the water’s weight makes it nearly impossible to turn b…

Swimming in the Dead Sea feels less like floating and more like resting on a solid mattress. The water is nearly ten times saltier than the ocean, creating a density that makes it physically impossible for a human to sink beneath the surface.

Normal seawater is about 3.5% salt, but the Dead Sea sits at roughly 34%. This high mineral content makes the water much denser than the human body. Because you displace a volume of water that weighs significantly more than you do, the upward buoyant force pushes you to the top with aggressive strength.

You cannot perform a traditional swimming stroke because your limbs pop out of the water like inflatable toys. Even trying to stand upright is a struggle; the water pushes your feet toward the surface, making you flip onto your back or stomach involuntarily.

Certify this discovery

Two questions. Prove you actually read it.

Get both right and this discovery is certified: +50 XP toward your next rank. No account needed.

How did this hit you?

Free curiosity pack