The Dead Sea shrinks around one meter each year due to extensive water usage by people.
What Makes The Dead Sea Shrink?
The Jordan River used to bring approximately 1.7 billion cubic meters of water every year, but today it is only 20% of that quantity due to several water diversion projects for agricultural and drinking water purposes. Potash mining activities in Jordan and Israel also contribute significantly to the problem.
What Are The Outcomes?
The water level has dropped by around thirty meters over the last 40 years, effectively separating the Dead Sea into two lakes since 1979. The water plunging downwards dissolves the underground salt which causes sinkholes appearing and swallowing the beaches and causes damage to agricultural land.
Is It Possible To Save The Dead Sea?
For a long time, the idea to make a canal from the Red Sea has been under discussion. However, moderate amounts of water from the canal will only slow down the considerable decline in the level of the Dead Sea instead of preventing it. The restoration of the Jordan River using treated wastewater could be much more effective, similar to cleaning up other rivers and inland water objects.
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