DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4592#0295
SOLUTION OF WATER. 295
been solved by modern science. By analyzation, its
specific gravity has been ascertained to be 1.211.
This is a degree of density unknown to any other
water, the specific gravity of fresh water being 1.000.
The water of the Dead Sea has been found to hold
in solution, the following proportions of salt to one
hundred grains of water :.
GRAINS.
Muriate of lime,. - - - 3 920
Muriate of magnesia,. - - 10.246
Muriate of soda, - - - 10.360
Sulphate of lime,. - - 0.054
24.580
It has been ascertained by critical observation, that
the Dead Sea lies 1,400 feet lower than the Mediter-
ranean. The Jordan continually discharges its waters
into it, while the sea has no known outlet whatever.
There must, then, be either a subterranean passage
from it somewhere, otherwise the evaporation must
be so great that the entire amount of water dischar-
ged into it from the Jordan, is taken up by that pro-
cess. The evaporation, of course, must be immense
in consequence of its low position and exposure to
the burning summer heats. Even in February, we
found the weather here excessively warm. The
length of this lake is estimated by the best authors at
about fifty miles, and its average width at about ten
or twelve miles. But it has never been explored.
No water craft of any kind, with one exception, has
probably ever floated upon it since the days of Abra-
ham. If such an occurrence took place in Jewish
times, we have no historical record of it.
been solved by modern science. By analyzation, its
specific gravity has been ascertained to be 1.211.
This is a degree of density unknown to any other
water, the specific gravity of fresh water being 1.000.
The water of the Dead Sea has been found to hold
in solution, the following proportions of salt to one
hundred grains of water :.
GRAINS.
Muriate of lime,. - - - 3 920
Muriate of magnesia,. - - 10.246
Muriate of soda, - - - 10.360
Sulphate of lime,. - - 0.054
24.580
It has been ascertained by critical observation, that
the Dead Sea lies 1,400 feet lower than the Mediter-
ranean. The Jordan continually discharges its waters
into it, while the sea has no known outlet whatever.
There must, then, be either a subterranean passage
from it somewhere, otherwise the evaporation must
be so great that the entire amount of water dischar-
ged into it from the Jordan, is taken up by that pro-
cess. The evaporation, of course, must be immense
in consequence of its low position and exposure to
the burning summer heats. Even in February, we
found the weather here excessively warm. The
length of this lake is estimated by the best authors at
about fifty miles, and its average width at about ten
or twelve miles. But it has never been explored.
No water craft of any kind, with one exception, has
probably ever floated upon it since the days of Abra-
ham. If such an occurrence took place in Jewish
times, we have no historical record of it.