Dead Sea

from my journal, September 11th, 1989

"Our last stop [on our weekly field trip] was for a swim in the Dead Sea--I mean a float! The mineral content is like 27-30%, so you can't sink. It's a weird sensation that takes a minute to get used to, but it was fun. It feels like you are in baby oil, and when you get out it's pretty gross until you can rinse off with fresh water--especially your hair. I tasted the water--just put my finger on my tongue for a second--and it tastes super gross too."

The water looks pretty clear up close...

...but this is what the Dead Sea looks like from a distance. Those are salt deposits, not waves.