Karen Ohnemus, age 12, of Urbandale, Iowa, for her question:

HOW DID THE DEAD SEA GET ITS NAME?

The Dead Sea is an inland saltwater lake 47 miles long and 10 miles wide located between Israel and Jordan. Although 6 millon tons of fresh water pour into the sea each day, it is so salty that no animal life can possibly live in the water. Ocean water is 3.5 percent salt while the Dead Sea contains 26 percent salt.

On the south side of the lake is a ridge of rock salt seven miles long and 300 feet high. Limestone cliffs 2,000 feet high, which are without vegetation, are on the east and west. On the north are mud flats encrusted with salt. The sea, which is 1,300 feet below the level of the Mediterranean, is properly named because it is so lifeless.