It is most remarkable because it is made almost entirely of halite, or
rock salt. It is approximately five miles (8 km) long, three miles (5
km) wide, 742 feet (226 m) above the Dead Sea water level, yet 557 feet
(170 m) below sea level. Because of weathering, sometimes portions
become separated. One of these separate pillars has been labeled "Lot's
Wife", a reference to Lot's wife in the Biblical account of the
destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
