The shrinking Dead Sea is a perennial news item, but The Times of Israel’s article today has some new information on the subject that I haven’t seen in previous reports. There’s also a 360-degree-video taken from a boat moving along the shore.
The article addresses numerous items of interest, including:
- The explosion of sinkholes from 100 to 6,000 in the last 25 years.
- The closing of multiple tourist spots along the shore.
- The reduction of the Jordan River to 5% of its original flow.
- How fresh water coming from the mountains creates the sinkholes.
- Israel’s increase of water released from the Sea of Galilee from 9 to 30 million cubic meters in the last 4 years.
- The debate about how the mining industry contributes to the problem.
- How Einot Tzukim is fighting to stay open for tourists.
- The upside of the highway bypass at En Gedi.
- One scholar’s proposal for an “open geological park” to enable visitors to view the sinkholes.
- Why another scholar believes the sinkholes are good.
This well-illustrated article written by Melanie Lidman is here.
The Dead Sea from Masada (June 2016)
