Ever wondered why the Dead Sea is called so?
The
Dead Sea is an inland saltwater lake, between Jordan and Israel. The lake
receives most of its water from the Jordan River.
However, most of the fish carried by the Jordan River into
the Dead Sea, are not able to survive. This is because the dead sea has a very
high percentage of salts dissolved in it. In fact, it boasts of being the most
saline water body on earth!
No forms of life can grow in this hostile environment, except
certain bacteria that find highly saline environments favorable for their
growth. These salt-loving microbes are called halophiles.
The halophilic bacteria grow in environments that have a concentrations
of sodium chloride higher than that of sea water. These bacteria can survive in
extreme conditions where very little nutrition is available. They also have a
high resistance to the salts present around them and can balance the osmotic
pressure of the environment.
Even the plants that grow along the coast of the dead sea,
are those that prefer a high concentration of salt in the soil. These plants
are called halophytes. Although sodium is not considered a key nutrient
for most plants, halophytes show significant improvement in growth, in presence
of sodium chloride.
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