Posted on 06/02/2004 12:32:47 AM PDT by JohnHuang2
Experts at a water conference in Jordan yesterday warned the Dead Sea may disappear in 50 years if current conditions are maintained, prompting Jordanian and Israeli officials to appeal for international assistance to save the much-revered body of water.
The sea – the saltiest water in the world and the lowest point on earth – has been dropping 3.3 feet per year for at least the past 20 years, mostly because of river diversion projects by Syria and Israel, according to experts.
"We appeal to water experts attending this conference to help us explain the crisis of the Dead Sea at international forums," Jordanian Water and Irrigation Minister Hazem al-Nasser said yesterday, news agencies reported.
Al-Nasser was speaking at a five-day symposium on water held at the Dead Sea resort of Southern Shuneh, which drew some 1,500 water experts from 30 countries.
"The Dead Sea is a unique international treasure, and it's the world's responsibility to take decisive action immediately to save this treasure," al-Nasser said.
A solution proposed by Israel at the conference entails drawing water from the Red Sea through a canal to be built along the border between Israel and Jordan. The Red Sea is located at the end of the same valley that contains the Dead Sea. Altitude differences – the Red Sea is over 1,500 feet higher – would be used to flow water downward to raise the level of the Dead Sea.
Jordan has tentatively agreed to the plan, priced at more than $1 billion, and together with Israel will appeal to the World Bank and several countries for funding.
Referred to in the Old Testament as the "Salt Sea," the Dead Sea makes for a unique natural setting. No life forms, except for bacteria, are able to live in its waters. Anyone can float without treading. Bathers from around the world visit resorts at the Dead Sea to cover their bodies with mineral-rich "black mud," which is shipped internationally by various cosmetics companies.
The Bible links King David, King Herod, John the Baptist and Jesus with the Dead Sea and its surroundings. The Prophets write the sea became salty during the infamous Sodom and Gomorrah story. And after the Egyptian conquest, Queen Cleopatra is said to have obtained exclusive rights to build cosmetic and pharmaceutical factories in the area.
Water, a precious commodity in any desert region, has also played an important role in Mideast politics. An Arab blockade and the bombing of pipelines in 1948 precipitated a major water crisis for the Jewish residents of Jerusalem during the months leading to Israel's War of Independence.
Yasser Arafat's bombing of water plants in the 1960s increased tensions between Israel and Syria. The Six Day War began after Egypt blockaded the Straits of Tiran, a major trading and shipping route for Israel.
Water was even a sticking point at Clinton's Camp David peace summit in 2000, with both parties vying for control of major water routes. The subject continues to be a sore subject between Israel and Jordan, who share water management responsibilities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Isn't the Dead Sea supposed to be "healed" (ie made into fresh water) at the Second Coming of Christ (or just prior to)?
Right. The "Dead" Sea is useful for what exactly? It's dead Jim.
FGS
If they want to raise the water level, just run a pipline from the Meditteranean to the Dead Sea and pipe in whatever water they need to bring it up to "normal" levels.
Even seawater would reduce the salinity drastically..
Son-of-a-bitch - I can't access my pics!
I so wanted to post Bones saying that, but someone will!
Good morning to ya FGS and amigo. It's damn hot here up North! Stay well, pals...............FRegards
The sea – the saltiest water in the world and the lowest point on earth – has been dropping 3.3 feet per year for at least the past 20 years, mostly because of river diversion projects by Syria and Israel, according to experts.
Soon to be renamed the Dead and Gone Sea...
The Dry Gulch Formerly Known as the Dead Sea.
The dead sea is very rich in mineral wealth. There are several 'beauty' and health care products manufacturers in Israel that use minerals from the dead sea in their products. These products are very effective in their designed uses (and also very expensive). The vast mineral wealth in the dead sea is useful for multiple purposes and it has been estimates that up to 90% of the worlds 'readily AVAILABLE' mineral wealth is located there.
My wife and went to Israel back in 200 and I 'swam' in the dead sea. Actually, I tried to 'swim' but that is impossible because as soon as someone turns over into a normal swemming posture, their bdy rises and their face goes down into the sea which is extremely salty and painful when the water hits ones eyes. I give my personal word on that.
Back in 1980, I swam in the great salt lake in Utah with no problem, but the dead sea is much worse and people are MUCH more bouyant in the dead sea because of it's density.
It is something that the holy land needs to preserve at all costs. Sort of like keeping the spotted owl and the ANWAR caribou from becoming extinct. /sarcasm off
Coming soon the Dead Sea Salt Flats.
No it is not the world's responsibility.
Desalinization of seawater will become popular in Israel and South Florida in the next 20 years as the cost of the water in the ground rises and the cost of desalinization falls.
I understand the need for people to have fresh water, I just don't understand the need to de-salinize water before pumping it into the Dead Sea..
If all they wish to do is raise the water level of the Dead Sea, then plain seawater should be fine..
If the concern is fresh water for human use, that is another matter, and the water level of the Dead Sea is a moot point..
Concerns over the Dead Sea seem to be the main thrust of the article however.
Those concerns can be addressed by simply piping seawater by the shortest route available..
And the change in elevation from the med to the dead sea means the project would pay for itself, with hydropower.
As long as no one blows it up.
Oh, and the loss of weight in the dead see is playing havoc with local tectonics.
The root need is for a different source of fresh water. That need is why the level of the Dead Sea is declining. Pumping seawater into the hole is a permanent job and still does not fix the problem. As the fresh water flow declines the now high level of the lake will cause the salt water to flow "upstream" in the riverbed and finally infiltrate into the freshwater that is being drawn off.
Jump to the last point..
I believe the whole sinkhole thing was mentioned in the article..
What wasn't explained, ( and this addresses the "fresh water" thing and rain thing, on a tangential basis ) was that the surrounding land acts as a desalinizing filter and eventually provides fresh groundwater.
In order for the Dead Sea to provide such groundwater, however, it's water level has to be high enough to allow it to seep in to the local water table and be filtered..
Said groundwater also acts to "support" local geology and prevent sinkholes and erosion through dehydration..
As for the hydropower comment.. "Dead" On..
The article noted the presently planned seawater source as the Red Sea, not the Meditteranean..
Whether it's Red to Dead, or Med to Dead, Using the gravity feed to power hydro-electric plants is right on..
The electrical power generated would pay for the original investment in the pipeline over time..
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.