You can drown in any body of water if you are unlucky. Even experienced swimmers sometimes die, unable to cope with strong current. Russia, as you know, is washed by the waters of 15 seas, if you count it together with the Caspian Sea, which some researchers define as a huge lake. Not all bodies of water are suitable for swimming due to the climatic conditions of our country. However, every year many careless tourists die during their summer holidays. So which Russian sea is the easiest to drown in?
Dangerous currents
The greatest threat to swimmers is represented by rip currents that occur from time to time near the shore. This phenomenon in English is called rip current. Such flows are also dangerous for people who know how to swim well, not to mention the bulk of tourists. Most Russians do not know what to do if they find themselves in a current that is being carried away from the shore.
Rip currents occur especially often in shallow waters with gently sloping shores that border sand spits and islands. Therefore, the warm and gentle Sea of Azov sometimes poses a real threat.
It’s just that during low tide the water does not move away from the shore gradually; in some places this natural process is delayed by shallows and sand spits. When the tide begins, the water pressure increases, and a reverse flow is formed near the shore - a kind of fast river inside the sea. This current moves at speeds of up to 3 meters per second. A swimmer caught in it cannot fight the powerful current, quickly loses strength and falls into panic, which can result in death.
Under no circumstances should you go into the sea, even waist-deep, if you see a section of water of a different color, where it is seething, foaming and clearly moving from the shore. This can keep you out of trouble. But if you get into reverse current, there is no need to panic. The fact is that the width of such dangerous areas of the water area usually does not exceed 50 meters. Just don't row towards the shore, exhausting yourself in the hope of rescue. Don't fight the current. Try to swim parallel to the shore to get out of the rip current zone, where you can escape.
Threat level
Reverse currents occur in all seas where there are gentle sandy beaches with strong ebbs and flows. In Russia, the most dangerous is, as we mentioned above, the Sea of Azov. The local waters are strongly dependent on the winds, which blow from the northeast, then from the southwest, often changing their direction to the opposite. Following the winds, currents also rush.
The Caspian Sea is also characterized by strong ebbs and flows. In the area of Dagestan beaches, so many vacationers die every holiday season that people even began to hear rumors about criminal divers who supposedly drown people on purpose in order to then sell their bodies for organs. However, these rumors are regularly denied by employees of the local department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia, who know that reverse currents are to blame for everything.
In the Sea of Japan, which washes the Russian Far East, there are also quite strong tides - due to the influence of the Pacific Ocean. Sharp fluctuations in water level can cause powerful currents, so vacationers on popular resorts Primorye should also be careful.
One should not discount the Black Sea, whose surface waters are constantly in motion under the influence of winds. In addition, there are as many gently sloping sandy beaches with shallows and islands as in neighboring Azov.
Perhaps the calmest of all the seas washing Russia is the Baltic. The best place to learn to swim here is for those tourists who have not yet mastered this useful skill. The water disturbance in the Baltic is insignificant, and the slow ebbs and flows, lasting from 12 hours to a day, change the coastline by no more than 20 centimeters. True, the obvious disadvantage of this sea is the low water temperature: even in summer it does not warm up above +20°C.
"Light" water
Despite the dangerous currents, sea water, as a rule, literally “pushes” the human body to the surface. And the more salts dissolved in it, the safer the bathing. For example, in the Dead Sea, located in Israel, it is impossible to drown precisely for this reason. However, not all Russian seas salty enough that swimming in them would be relatively safe. In some of them, the water is so “light” that it can even be considered almost as fresh as in rivers and lakes.
Unfortunately, the Baltic is seriously inferior to other seas in this indicator. Its water, according to experts, can even be drunk with almost no harm to health. Salinity on the surface is only 2-3%. In such “light” water there is always a danger of drowning.
The Sea of Azov is also far from salty. It is 3 times fresher than Atlantic Ocean, For example. The composition of the local water is poor in chlorine and sodium, but there are a lot of calcium ions, various sulfates and carbonates. Therefore, in the event of an emergency, doctors do not prohibit drinking a little Azov water once.
The Black Sea is a little saltier than the Azov Sea, but still not enough to make swimming in it relatively safe.
The mineralization of the Caspian waters depends on the specific region: the further north, the “lighter” the water. In the south of this sea, each liter can contain from 60 to 100 grams of different salts. However, the Russian coast is located in the northern part of the Caspian Sea, where swimming is as dangerous as in the Black Sea. The average salinity of the water of the huge lake is 10-11%.
The safest from this point of view is the Sea of Japan. Its mineralization is comparable to the average level of the World Ocean. The degree of salinity varies from 33.7% to 34.3% - this is not much less than in Pacific Ocean. So for residents and guests of Primorye, swimming does not pose a big threat; the water there is “heavy” enough to push a person’s body to the surface.
Bottom relief
Despite the possibility of dangerous currents and the “lightness” of water, the Sea of Azov has its advantages. Its underwater terrain is quite safe. Flat beaches, consisting of sand or small shell rock, transform into gently sloping plains under water. The sea depth of 5 meters is reached only at a distance of 2 km from the coastline.
Baltic sandy beaches are also safe according to this indicator. The bottom here is mostly flat. Its terrain becomes rocky and dangerous only in the north of the reservoir, where there are no resort areas.
The Black Sea has been well explored for generations Russian tourists. Its bottom is also relatively safe. Northern part The coastline washing Russia has a wide shelf strip where the water depth is quite shallow. But the southern and eastern beaches of the Black Sea, located in Turkey and Georgia, have a steeper slope, and the bottom topography there can be cut by underwater canyons. However, off the coast of Crimea and Krasnodar region The depth of the sea increases quite sharply when compared with the Azov Sea. Thus, already 2 km from the coast the 500-meter mark can be overcome.
Relief of the underwater part Sea of Japan characterized by heterogeneity. Four lithospheric plates “meet” here: North American, Pacific, Eurasian and Philippine. Therefore, there are several large basins and ridges at the bottom. Swimming should be done with caution. Already close to the shore, steep slopes may begin in some places.
As you can see, it is difficult to name one particular sea as the most suitable for swimming. Everywhere has its pitfalls (literally) and dangers. During their vacation, tourists should take into account the characteristics of each of the seas.
One of the most unique creations nature is located on the border of Israel and Jordan. Perhaps in the whole world you will not find a body of water that is equally significant for the history of mankind.
Over the centuries, the Dead Sea has played a huge historical, cultural and religious role, so today it is not only popular destination for lovers beach holiday and wellness treatments.
It occupies an extremely important place on the maps of the ancient Egyptians, Arabs and Jews. In addition, numerous traditions of these peoples are associated with it. We bring to your attention the most interesting information about the Dead Sea, which you may have never heard of.
Endorheic salt lake
In his book “Innocents Abroad or the Progress of the New Pilgrims,” Mark Twain described his impression of the Dead Sea: “An oppressive silence hung over him. And you involuntarily begin to think about funerals and death.”
The Dead Sea gets its grim name from its lifeless landscape and the almost complete absence of underwater organic life. The water here is superior ocean water in salinity level approximately nine and a half times. Neither algae, nor fish, nor other large marine life are able to survive such a colossal concentration of salt. Only at the bottom of the sea were some species of bacteria and fungi that adapted to the extreme environment discovered.
In fact, the Dead Sea is an endorheic salt marsh lake, that is, it is in no way connected waterways with other seas and oceans and therefore has no natural drainage. As a result of intense evaporation of fresh water coming from the Jordan River and several streams, a huge amount of sodium chloride has accumulated at the bottom of the sea over many centuries.
The lowest landmass on the planet
The water level in the Dead Sea is approximately four hundred and twenty meters below sea level. Thus, the local coast is the most low area sushi on the planet. The longest Israeli highway, No. 90, crosses the entire country from the northern border with Lebanon to the southern border with Egypt, and is considered the lowest road in the world, as its section runs along the western shore of the Dead Sea. Highway 90 also has a reputation as one of the most... dangerous roads in the world because of large quantity road accidents reported here.
Unique climate
Thanks to the exceptional geographical location Among desert and mountains, the Dead Sea has a unique microclimate. So, about three hundred and thirty days a year there is clear sunny weather here. The climate is characterized by low humidity and low precipitation. During the year, the temperature ranges from 15 to 38 degrees Celsius. But most importantly, this is the only place in the world where, even with prolonged exposure to the sun, you can not be afraid of sunburn thanks to natural protection from ultraviolet rays.
The Dead Sea is difficult to swim in, but you can drown
Due to the high salt content, any person will stay afloat without much effort, so the Dead Sea will certainly appeal to those who have never bothered to learn how to swim. But good swimmers should not forget that they are unlikely to be able to arrange a freestyle swim in a salty solution, since a person gets the impression that he is constantly wearing a life jacket.
The Dead Sea ranks second among Israeli bodies of water in terms of the number of deaths. It may seem strange, but the risk of drowning in the salty sea is not a fiction at all. It turns out that it is incredibly difficult for a person to move by swimming, so he can unintentionally take an uncomfortable, awkward and even dangerous position. In addition, you should not swallow salt water in large quantities, as this can cause poisoning and lead to kidney disease.
Healing properties of the Dead Sea
Since time immemorial, people have known about the miraculous healing properties of the Dead Sea. Aristotle, Cleopatra and other great celebrities visited these lands to undergo health and rejuvenation procedures. On top of one of the rocks, above south coast The ancient fortress of Masada is located in the Dead Sea. King Herod the Great of Judea built it for himself and his family in 25 BC. King Herod loved to visit the Dead Sea area for the hot springs. He used the fortress not only as a refuge in case of danger, but also as a place of rest for soul and body.
The air of the Dead Sea is unique; it is maximally saturated with oxygen, which has a beneficial effect on mood and overall well-being. At the same time, the concentration of bromine, known for its pleasant relaxing effect and calming effect on the nervous system, exceeds the usual concentration several times. Nowadays, numerous spa centers, hotels and clinics have been built along the entire coast of the Dead Sea, where vacationers can experience the healing effects of medicinal mud, salt and the local climate. Scientists, doctors and cosmetologists are studying various treatment options for skin diseases. Additionally, Dead Sea salt is a popular ingredient in many lotions and creams.
Biblical predictions
Modern scientists have tried to search in the Dead Sea area for the remains of the famous biblical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The exact location of the cities is now unknown, but experts have little doubt that these cities were flooded by the Dead Sea.
According to the Bible, cities were destroyed by God for the numerous sins of their inhabitants. Only the family of righteous Lot escaped punishment. The Old Testament describes how, during the departure of Lot and his family from Sodom, sulfur poured from heaven to earth. Lot and his family were forbidden to look back, but Lot's wife disobeyed, for which she was turned into a pillar of salt.
The Bible says that the water of the Dead Sea will one day become fresh. Perhaps this prophecy has already begun to come true, since, according to recent research, fresh water springs have appeared at the bottom of the Dead Sea.
Bitumen Lake
One of the ingredients that the ancient Egyptians used when embalming mummies during burial rituals was asphalt. The Egyptians mined it in the Dead Sea. The ancient Greek historian and geographer Strabo wrote about the fact that there is a lot of natural asphalt in the Dead Sea. In those days, the sea was called a bitumen lake, since asphalt was considered more important than salt.
Today, potassium carbonate continues to be mined at the Dead Sea. known to people Since ancient times, potash has been used as a fertilizer. This is a very profitable modern business.
Historical find
In 1947, a shepherd boy accidentally discovered one of the most significant archaeological finds of the 20th century, the so-called Qumran manuscripts or Dead Sea Scrolls, in a cave near the Dead Sea. Well-preserved biblical and non-biblical manuscripts have allowed scholars to adjust the historical view of religious events to take into account new data.
The water level in the Dead Sea is falling dramatically
The maximum depth of the Dead Sea is just over three hundred meters, but over the past hundred years the water level has dropped by twenty-five meters. Environmental studies show that the sea could dry up completely within fifty years if appropriate measures are not taken. In order to stop the drying process, Israel and Jordan teamed up to implement a joint project to transfer the waters of the Red Sea to the Dead Sea.
7 not allowed in the Dead Sea
The Dead Sea is the largest spa in the world. After a few days, the skin becomes velvety, the body becomes relaxed, and the mood becomes elevated (there is a really high content of soothing bromide in the air, which makes even hypochondriacs begin to smile). How can you resist the temptation to go for beauty and health!
But to prevent your mood from being at the Dead Sea from suddenly spoiling, you should know the rules of conduct on the local beaches and especially in the water.
So, 7 tips for those who are going to the Dead Sea.
1. Don't dive
The water contains 10 times more salt than the normal sea. One can only guess how painful it will be if water gets into your eyes. If this does happen, you need to urgently run to the nearby shower, which on official beaches is usually located right next to the water.
2. Do not swallow
According to the rules, if a person takes a sip of water from Dead Sea, he must immediately contact rescuers. This is, perhaps, one such place in the world where rescuers provide assistance not to those who are drowning, but to those who simply drink water.
3. Don't shave
For men, this, of course, is not applicable, since they are unlikely to dip their heads in water. But women who decide to shave their legs or, even worse, their bikini area, can pay for it with unbearable pain - any abrasion will be burned off mercilessly with salt.
4. Do not go into the water barefoot
This applies to those beaches where the coast is not sandy or muddy. Salt deposits and stones can cause those same cuts and abrasions. It is better to take closed shoes; If necessary, you can buy it here on the beach.
5. Don't enter quickly
The resistance of the water here is high, so due to inexperience, due to a frenzied approach, you can lose your balance and easily fall headlong into the water, and even make splashes, so that others will also get hurt. There is no need to go far - just lean on the water and it will pick you up.
6. Don't take silver
It will quickly turn black in salt water. By the way, it can fade even due to the high salt content in the air.
7. Don't wear a new swimsuit
The colors will wash out very quickly. After dipping, it is better to rinse your swimsuit thoroughly, otherwise it will be very difficult to remove salt stains later.
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I would like to warn you about real dangers that can completely ruin your vacation on one of the strangest and most mysterious seas on Earth.
First, I’ll tell you about the sea itself, the shore of which is 416 meters below sea level. The Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea, and it itself was not so long ago connected to the Indian Ocean. The sea is becoming shallower before our eyes and there is already serious talk about the possible death of this wonder of the world. But while the sea is alive, people enjoy relaxing on its shores. However, dangers await uninformed or overconfident tourists.
So, geographically the Dead Sea belongs to the basin Indian Ocean- the home of many secrets, fairy tales and unsolved myths.
There are no fish in it, and there is no natural vegetation around it. Even the ultraviolet radiation of the tropical Sun loses its scorching power, allowing the most careless vacationers to sunbathe with impunity for 2-3 hours. But still, I do not advise you to take this information on faith and not tempt fate.
Protective cream, light clothing, comfortable shoes and sunglasses will not be superfluous.
For those who are planning to go to the Dead Sea even for one day, the stress on the body will be more than enough: a rather tiring swim in oily, incredibly salty water, hydrogen sulfide hot baths, radon showers, powerful mud treatments, a freshwater pool...
If the time for swimming in the Dead Sea is limited by natural fatigue, then it is advisable to control the time of hydrogen sulfide and mud baths using a clock that is posted everywhere. The usual recommendations for healthy people with a healthy heart are no more than 10-15 minutes for each procedure.
Older people, of course, cannot do without a doctor’s advice. Experience shows that moderate procedures are so life-giving that you will remain in great shape for a long time. Overdoing it with procedures in order to “accumulate life-giving force” guarantees you subsequent discomfort - heaviness, headache and other “delights” of excess.
I advise those people who have skin problems to stay at the Dead Sea for more than one day. For young and energetic people, a one-day trip will be enough - on the second day you will simply be bored. There are many other places in Israel that are also a must-see!
Now for tips on safety precautions!
Nothing is so cheap and nothing is so valuable as good advice. I would like to warn about real dangers that can completely ruin the holiday for both the vacationer and the surrounding public. Safety precautions are simple and can be outlined in several points.
1. The sea constantly recedes, leaving behind strips of shifting mud covered with a deceptively hard crust. Walk only on marked paths so as not to fall into a black mess.
2. The water in the Dead Sea is extremely caustic. Swim so that splashes do not get into your eyes or those around you. The consequences of this are very painful and traumatic.
3. If something bad happens and water gets into your eyes (the sensation is very unpleasant), immediately rinse them with water. fresh water, the taps of which are located near the shore. By the way, this is one of the reasons not to swim far.
4. The statement that you cannot drown in the Dead Sea due to the high density of water is a myth. Otherwise, what would the rescuers with binoculars on the tower do?
5. The time of mud procedures and radon baths should be dosed - 10-15 minutes for each procedure. Instructions in 4 languages, including Russian, are posted everywhere. The clock too.
6. If you are committed extreme tourism, then be very careful when walking from the highway to the shore. The retreating sea leaves behind voids covered with an outwardly hard crust. Don't tempt fate, don't walk through a minefield! Only on official beaches can you feel safe. Be sure to take a decent supply of water - both for drinking plenty and for a generous shower after swimming.
7. And the last thing - for those who came on a one-day excursion. Having received the number with the key to the locker, put it on your wrist and do not take it off - neither in water nor on land. Its loss can overshadow a serene holiday and deprive everyone of the charm that this grandiose wonder of the world gives everyone.
