​Only a short distance from the Dead Sea, an international mountain-bike race attracted more than 1,500 riders during a two-day festival of running, cycling and family fun.

Mariod Athanasiadis took first place in the 17th annual Veolia Desert Challenge from December 2-3, 2011. Also known as the Race for Peace, it is the lowest mountain bike race on earth. Its founder, Nimrod Cohen, hopes one day to make half of the competition in neighboring Jordan.

"It was fun. You have to have skills, to pass fast through the canyon," she says.