DEPRESSIONS IN THE EARTH'S SURFACE. 155 



below sea-level than on an elevated plateau. The 

 lungs seem to be more easily filled by the denser air. 



The Jordan is a famous river in which to bathe, 

 though the fact has not been demonstrated that the 

 sacred waters possess therapeutic virtues. 



In a country where pools of fresh water are 

 scarce, it might naturally be supposed that w r ayfarers 

 and nomads would long to lave their tired limbs in 

 the cool and refreshing eddies of so bountiful a stream. 

 No wonder the tourist feels like resting when such an 

 inviting environment is presented. In this historic 

 valley Christianity was cradled ; the solemn scenes of 

 the Crucifixion and Resurrection were riot far away ; 

 in this vicinity the sublime teachings of the Gospel 

 were first uttered, and the miracles of Christ per- 

 formed. Truly this is Holy Land ! 



Africa has many depressions below ocean level. 

 The ancient " bitter lakes," now in the course of the 

 Suez Canal, are below sea level; and an arid depres- 

 sion between the shores of the Red Sea and the table 

 lands of Abyssinia embraces Lake Assal, which is 700 

 feet below the ocean. Although only 25 miles from 

 the port of Tajurrah, caravans resort to the saline 

 basin for supplies of salt some of them coming from 

 the interior of Abyssinia. The shores of the lakes 

 are incrusted to the depth of six inches, and present 

 the picturesque appearance of being covered with 

 freshly fallen snow. The salinity of the water is fully 

 equal to that of the Dead Sea. 



In South Africa, near the 20th parallel of lati- 

 tude, is an extensive depression in which there is a 

 series of saline lakes and brackish lagoons. It is 

 almost a rainless region, and repulsively sterile. 



Bovines and antelopes resort to these saline basins 



