Самое соленое озеро в мире – необычайное и amazing natural phenomenon. There are similar bodies of water on almost all continents. Antarctica in this case is no exception. In America and Russia, there are entire zones where there are a huge number of similar reservoirs. But what is the most saline lake in the world?
The Dead Sea
The list of the largest lakes in the area is headed byThe Dead Sea. Many may not agree with this. After all, this is not a lake, but a sea. However, it is not. The Dead Sea is a drainless, as it does not have access to any of the oceans. This lake is located on the border between Jordan and Israel. In size, this body of water is not very large. Its length is 76 kilometers, and its width is only 18, the maximum depth is 370 meters. Total area of the Dead Sea - 810 m2. Gradually, the lake is reduced in size.
Only one of the major rivers flows into this reservoir - the Jordan. Feed the Dead Sea also small streams. However, the water in the lake evaporates quickly, since the air temperature here often drops below 40 aboutS. Salts, on the contrary, remain and accumulate.In addition to fresh rivers, the Dead Sea is also nourished by mineral springs located on its southern coast. As a result, the concentration of salts only increases and is approximately 28%. And in some places this figure reaches 33%. For comparison, you can take the waters of the oceans. Here, the salt concentration is at most 4%. The most fresh water of the Dead Sea flows near its northern shores. Here, the salt concentration is only 24%. It is in this part that the Jordan River flows into it. As you can see, this is the saltiest sea. Information about this reservoir changes every year. After all, the water level decreases, and the salt concentration increases.
Lakes also have legends
On the southern shore of the Dead Sea, nature has createdamazing pillars. This was due to the fact that in this part of the reservoir is much more salt, and the water evaporates quite quickly. One of these pillars resembles a female figure dressed in a raincoat. She even has her name - Lot's wife. It is connected with one of the biblical legends, which tells how God decided to punish Gomorrah and Sodom. Of his intention, he warned one of the righteous - Lot - and ordered him to leave the city before his fall, without stopping along the road or turning around. However, Lot’s wife violated the ban and was eventually punished, turning into a salt pillar.
The most salty lake in the world: is there life in it?
Название Мертвого моря говорит само за себя:there is no life in it. There are no fish and algae. The shores of the reservoir are also lifeless. Even the surface of the Dead Sea does not resemble the water surface. It is more like an oily liquid with a metallic sheen with white flakes of salt in smaller places.
However, scientists say that this body of water is not completely dead. It is home to salt-loving bacteria, and sometimes even fungi.
Features of the Dead Sea
The most saline lake in the world has manyfeatures. First of all, its waters are saturated with various minerals, for example, iodine, sodium, potassium and boron. The ancient healers knew about the beneficial properties of the salt solution of this reservoir. Water from the Dead Sea helps to heal all sorts of skin diseases.
However, swimming in this lake is practicallyis impossible. After all, salt water can corrode the skin. If such a solution gets into any wound, there will be not very pleasant sensations. That is why swimming in the Dead Sea is not so pleasant. It is rather the lot of lovers of the exotic or those who are forced to take such water procedures as prescribed by doctors.
By the way, diving in the Dead Sea is difficult, soas its waters are thick brine. A person can only swing on the surface of a lake like a float. Drown in the Dead Sea is simply impossible. In addition, the coast of the reservoir is considered a fairly low place on land. It is located just 0.4 kilometers below sea level.
Lake Don Juan
This is another salt lake in the world.However, few know about its existence. Lake Don-Juan is located on the glacial continent - in Antarctica. To be more precise, on the lands of Victoria in the Wright Valley. By the way, the hydronym has nothing to do with the famous Lovelace - the lake is named after the people who first discovered it. These were helicopter pilots John Hickey and Don Ro. They discovered the lake in 1961. In size it is very small. Around 1998, its depth was a little less than 100 meters, length - 1 kilometer, and width - 400 meters.
At the moment, the reservoir has decreased significantly insizes. Now its depth is only 10 centimeters, length - 300 meters, and width - 100 meters. Water evaporates from it quickly. At the same time, the Don-Juan Lake does not completely dry up. He is supported by underwater sources. After all, this body of water is one of those places where ground waters come to the surface.
Why is the lake salty
Scientists suggest the lake has become saltydue to the content in the sedimentary rocks a large amount of salts. It is through them that the melt water from the springs passes. These sources are the main feed of the lake Don Juan. At the same time the air in the valley is very dry. In such conditions, water evaporates much faster. At the moment, the Don-Juan Lake is ahead of the Dead Sea in salt concentration. Now this figure is 40%. Because of such a fairly high concentration, the pond does not freeze even at a temperature of -40 aboutFROM.
As you can see, Don Juan Lake is the saltiest lake.in the world. But in size it is significantly inferior to the Dead Sea. Scientists also became interested in this water because the conditions in this, so to speak, water area (intense cold, aridity, hypersalinity and high ultraviolet radiation) are very similar to those on the surface of Mars.
Lake elton
The largest salt lakes in the world - this is nownature miracle. In the Volgograd region of Russia there is a reservoir Elton. It is the largest mineral water lake in all of Europe. The shape of this reservoir is almost round. The lake is located in the depression between the salt domes. At the same time, the reservoir has no runoff. The most amazing thing is the color of the water in Elton Lake. It has a reddish tinge.
