What do you know about the Dead Sea?

While the salt content of the water is too high for plants and animals to survive, scientists have discovered microbial life thriving at the bottom of the lake.

Israeli, German and American scientists are studying a fungus that grows in the Dead Sea to find out how it survives in such salty water. This could mean successful attempts at using saltwater in agriculture in the future.

The Dead Sea is a therapeutic place to visit because of its climate and rich minerals. The most popular beauty product from the Dead Sea is its muddy, salty mask that claims to purify and cleanse the skin.

The Dead Sea is just over 1,000 feet deep, making it the deepest hypersaline lake in the world.

Standing on the shore of the Dead Sea in Israel, you would be about 1,400 feet below sea level.

People can float with such ease on the surface of the Dead Sea because the hypersaline lake is very dense due to its salt content.

Read more about this interesting phenomenon.

The Dead Sea is one of the sunniest places on Earth, with temperatures reaching over 100 degrees and never getting any lower than the 50s. UVB rays are weaker here.

Ancient Egyptians found asphalt bubbling up from the bottom of the lake and used it as part of their mummification process. Blocks of bitumen can still be found floating on the surface of the Dead Sea to this day.

The saltiest lake on Earth is actually the Don Juan Pond in Antarctica, with more than 40 percent salinity. The Dead Sea and a few other hypersaline lakes are up there on the list, however, with just over 30 percent salinity.

Despite only getting about 2 inches of rain a year, the water cycle continues at the Dead Sea. As water evaporates, it leaves behind lots of salt.

Though it is quite salty, the Dead Sea is not technically a sea – it's what's known as a salt lake. It's completely landlocked between Israel and Jordan, with only one source of water: the Jordan River.