Facing the Dead Sea: The Explorers of the Lowest Point on Earth

This book provides the first complete historical account of the exploration of the Dead Sea up to the mid‑nineteenth century. Following the 1837 discovery that the Dead Sea lies far below sea level, explorers from across Europe undertook expeditions to measure, map, and document the region.
Working amid regional conflicts and imperial rivalries, these explorers advanced geography, geology, cartography, and measurement techniques, while also pursuing religious and geopolitical objectives. The book combines scientific analysis with cultural and artistic perspectives, featuring more than 30 maps and roughly 100 rare drawings and engravings by traveler-artists. Many of these materials have been carefully restored for modern publication, making the volume both an essential scholarly reference and a captivating visual record.

Prof. Haim Goren is a leading historical geographer and Professor Emeritus at Tel-Hai Academic College. His research focuses on European scientific activity in the Ottoman Land of Israel and the Near East during the nineteenth century, with particular emphasis on the development of modern cartography and geographical knowledge. His publications are widely regarded as foundational in the field. Notable titles include Dead Sea Level: Science, Exploration and Imperial Interests in the Near East (I.B. Tauris, 2011), Mapping the Holy Land: The Foundation of a Scientific Cartography of Palestine (I.B. Tauris, 2017), and The Loss of a Minute Is Just So Much Loss of Life: Edward Robinson and Eli Smith in the Holy Land (Brepols, 2020).