The next day there was an optional excursion to the Dead Sea available. Since I had failed in my attempt to get to Jerusalem during this trip (I had asked each guide for help arranging a trip to Jerusalem and each one had suggested I ask the guide in our next destination. Our Jordanian guide was the end of the road, and he merely politely declined to help, suggesting it wasn't really worth the long journey), I spent some of what I had saved for Israel on this trip, which was the second most expensive of the optionals after Abu Simbel (or the hot air balloon in Luxor, but I didn't do that one). It was worth it though. The shore of the Dead Sea is the lowest point of dry land on the surface of the earth, 1385ft below sea level. It's also famous for its high salt content, over one-third. You can see the thick white salt residue in the background here.