FIVE THINGS ABOUT THE DEAD SEA

1 IT’S DISAPPEARING

The Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth at 423 metres below sea level, has shrunk significantly over recent decades, a process environmentalists blame on unsustainable water management and over-exploitation of the lake’s minerals.

2 SWIM CHALLENGE

“We’re here for the first ever Dead Sea swim challenge … to send out a clear message to save the Dead Sea, which is shrinking today at an alarming rate,” said Mira Edelstein, from the environmental group EcoPeace. Organizers say the Dead Sea’s water level has fallen by more than 25 metres over the last three decades. The lake’s southern basin, disconnected from the shrinking northern side, has seen flooding in recent years because of heavy industrialization.

3 WHO TOOK PART

25 swimmers from Israel, the Palestinian territories and as far as New Zealand, South Africa and Denmark, wore special face masks to shield them from the briny water, which is painful to the eyes and can be deadly to ingest. Swimming in the Dead Sea is unusual. Tourists typically dip themselves from the beaches and float on the water with the help of the lake’s high salt concentration.

4 TOUGH CONDITIONS

“I must say that I did not expect this swim to be so hard, and what was really, really tough conditions is that salt. Constantly trying to get the salt out of your mask and the chafing,” said Jean Craven, a founder of Madswimmer, a South African charity.

5 NOT A RACE

“This was a challenge, not a race,” Craven said. “It was really great to see the camaraderie, you know, everyone trying to bring the slowest swimmers along with them.”