In June 1964, Israel's Prime Minister Levi Eshkol inaugurated a monumental project: the National Water Carrier. This system was the country's lifeline, a 130-kilometer network of giant pipes and canals designed to make the southern Negev desert bloom. Each year, it moved 320 million cubic meters of fresh water from the Sea of Galilee. But this water once flowed down the Jordan River, the primary source that replenished the Dead Sea. By diverting the river, the carrier project was vital for Israeli agriculture, but it also cut off the Dead Sea's lifeline. The lowest point on Earth, a unique, hyper-saline lake where people could float effortlessly, had just begun its dramatic, man-made decline. The water level would now start to fall, year after year.
Why the Dead Sea Is Shrinking
Why the Dead Sea is falling by over a metre a year: the water taken from the Jordan River, the mineral industry, and what scientists expect to happen next.
The First Cut
Part of
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Dead Sea so salty?
The Dead Sea is an endorheic lake, meaning it has no outlet. Water flows in but can only leave through evaporation. When the water evaporates, it leaves behind dissolved minerals and salts, which have accumulated over millennia to a concentration nearly ten times that of the ocean.
Can people still swim in the Dead Sea?
Yes, though access has become more difficult. The high salinity makes the water incredibly dense, allowing people to float effortlessly on the surface. However, many former beaches and resorts have been closed due to the receding shoreline and the danger of sinkholes.
What is potash and why is it extracted from the Dead Sea?
Potash is a salt that contains potassium, a vital nutrient for plant growth, making it a key ingredient in agricultural fertilizers. The Dead Sea has extremely high concentrations of potash. Companies pump its water into large ponds, where the sun evaporates the water and leaves the valuable minerals behind for collection.
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