धरती के ‘पाताल’ में बसी अनोखी दुनिया… जहां की हवा फेफड़ों को एक्स्ट्रा आराम देती है! – Life at lowest Place of World Life at lowest Place of World Neve Zohar Israel Dead sea sdsh ntc
Just imagine, a place where even if you step into water, you can never drown. Where your skin does not burn even after spending hours in the scorching heat of the desert and where the air is so fresh that the lungs do not have to struggle to breathe, but get ‘extra’ rest. This is the story of the lowest settlement in the world situated in the ‘underworld’ of the earth.
The view here looks like a science-fiction film. on one side Desert On one side are dry, muddy and huge mountains, while on the other side is the blue-turquoise spread Dead Sea, on whose shores there are thick layers of white salt and not sand. In this mysterious silent valley, the physical laws of nature work quite differently from the rest of the world.
This place is Neve Zohar which is near the Dead Sea. Israel Is in. Here the ground sinks down and stops at a depth like ‘underworld’. This place is situated more than 400 meters below sea level. That means there is no other place in the world lower than this where humans live. Neve Zohar is located in the Southern District of Israel, in the Jordan Rift Valley, at the junction of Highway 31 and Highway 90.
What is special about this place?
Due to being at great depth, the atmospheric pressure here is very high. Due to this huge pressure, the air here contains 8% to 10% more oxygen than in the normal world. It is very easy to breathe here, which provides relief to asthma and heart patients. The sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays are naturally filtered. This means that even in bright sunlight, the risk of sunburn is negligible.
According to official figures, the permanent population of this unique village is only 166. Despite being small, this area is very important administratively, as it is the headquarters of ‘Tamar Regional Council’. There is a small primary school, a local museum and a few selected residential houses.
The history of this place is not very old. It was started in the year 1964. Initially it was a small work camp built for factory workers near the Dead Sea. Gradually times changed and people built their permanent homes here. Just 3 kilometers north of here is a big hotel and resort hub called ‘En Bokek’, where rich tourists from all over the world come.
But Neve Zohar has kept itself from being commercial. The local residents here have converted a part of their houses into very beautiful gimmers i.e. small guest houses. Budget travelers and peace-loving people stay here who want to enjoy swimming in the magical waters of the Dead Sea at less money.
The residents of Neve Zohar face many unique challenges every day. It is scorching hot here. In the summer months i.e. June to September, the temperature here often crosses 45°C to 47°C. The heat here is extremely dry and heavy, making it impossible to go out of the house in the afternoon. It rains only 40-50 mm throughout the year.
There is lack of shops and markets here. There is no supermarket, big restaurant or nightlife within this village. If residents need household ration or major medical facilities, they have to climb the mountains to go to the city of ‘Arad’, located 25 kilometers away. It is very difficult to live here without a personal vehicle.
Due to the excessive salt content in the Dead Sea water, people do not drown in it. The water here is about 8.6 times more salty than normal oceans or seas. About 34% salinity is found in its water. This means that about 340 grams of salt and other minerals are dissolved in 1 liter of water.
There are also climate related challenges here. The concern about the Dead Sea is that its water level is shrinking at the rate of about 1 meter every year. Due to less water, dangerous sinkholes are forming in the surrounding land, which can change the geography of this settlement in future.
Nestled amidst a peaceful environment, pollution-free air and this unique miracle of nature, this settlement is a living proof that humans can make any part of the earth their ‘lovely home’.
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