Images show Dead Sea level falling( Photo: Dead Sea Revival Project)
A new project to save the Dead Sea is underway and has a new crowdfunding campaign to raise donations for the project: The Dead Sea Revival Project
Everyone by now knows that the Dead Sea is drying up and in danger of disappearing altogether. Its waters have been receding from their old shoreline for years now and there is even a gap in the middle that separates the Dead Sea into northern and southern parts. Pipes were connected to bring water from the northern part to the lower half.
Geologists have pointed out that the Dead Sea has been shrinking for thousands of years. They have shown its ancient shorelines that once went up to sea level. But the drying out of the sea has increased in the modern era for a number of reasons. First, the sea’s waters are consumed by private enterprises that extract its minerals for sale.
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Then there is the urban sprawl located in the greater Jerusalem area above. The increased presence of buildings and roads prevents many of the winter rains from running down from the Judean hills and into the Dead Sea below. Also, Israel diverts much of the water from its northern areas for consumption. This water would otherwise flow down the Jordan River to its end at the top of the Dead Sea.
Finally, climate change has also taken a toll, with hotter weather speeding up the dehydration of the top water of the Dead Sea. Less rain and combined with the examples above mean that the top water is not then replenished.
So, in stepped the Dead Sea Revival Project is the only NGO today dedicated solely to sharing the Dead Sea story with the world and influencing public opinion and global support. It stands for the restoration of the historic water sources of the Dead Sea- the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River and the formation of a Middle Eastern alliance for water sustainability.
Images show Dead Sea level falling( Photo: Dead Sea Revival Project)
For the past 7 years the Dead Sea Revival Project has been exploring the Dead Sea by Boat discovering locations that are not accessible by land due to the sinkholes, and documenting the extreme change in the water levels. It has used these images to educate the world about the environmental challenges facing the Dead Sea while pushing for an active change through legal and legislative measures.
Now they are embarking on a new mission to create their own boat eco-tour adventures so that they can bring as many people into the Dead Sea to see up close what is happening on a daily basis.
Measuring 430 meters below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on Earth and is one of the deepest lakes in the world (480 meters / 1580 feet). It is the 4th saltiest body of water on earth that contains 26 minerals with half of them exclusively unique to the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea Basin is shared between Israel and Jordan.
