Did you know that the lake consists of almost 35% salt? And that it is nine times saltier than the oceans of the world? I didn't! The water feels funny though, it is so dense and mineral rich that it feels like olive oil mixed with sand. Yak! Good to know: The salty lake located at the lowest point on Earth, is gradually shrinking under the heat of the Middle Eastern sun. At an alarming rate - the surface level is dropping more than a metre (3ft) a year.