The Middle East

Credit: ESA, Posted on: Sunday, 26 December 2004, 09:41 CST Download full size image

This Envisat image shows the blue eastern edge of the Mediterranean and the desert landscape of the Middle East. The territory of numerous nations is covered, including Israel, Lebanon and Syria on the coast, Jordan to the east of Israel, and part of Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Prominent at the bottom left of the image is the Dead Sea. Located at 417 metres below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on the Earth's surface. With a surface area of 1050 square kilometres, this water body is ten times more salty than the open sea. This salinity is too much for any fish to survive, although bacteria and fungi are found in its waters.

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