The Red Sea is an inlet of the Indian Ocean between Africa and Asia. And the dead sea located on the border between the West Bank, Israel, and Jordan, is the earths biggest natural spa. This is the, deepest hypersaline lake in the world at 330 m (1,083 ft)
Why is the Dead sea dying ?
• Diversion of the rivers between Syria and Israel.
• Overuse of the waters of the Jordan river for irrigation
• Evaporation due to global warming
• Over pumping and mineral extraction by Israeli and Jordanian companies are drying up the Dead Sea with the result that the shoreline is receding three feet a year.
Why do we need to preserve it?
• This sea and its surrounding has been the source of much human social history and it is linked to the three monotheistic religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
• The sea waters are a major center for health research .
• Even though it may never entirely disappear it will loose its therapeutic properties.
• It is a main source of tourism because of the healing and rejuvenating properties of its waters.
• Geologists warn that drop in the water level would increase earthquake possibilities.
Officials from Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority finally met along the shores of the Dead Sea to settle details of a study to save the shrinking body of water. The plan is to pump the water from the red sea through tunnels. The study will look at the environmental and social consequences of transferring water.
France, Japan, the United States and the Netherlands have dedicated themselves to financing the $15 million study.
The Israeli Minister of National Infrastructure, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, said:
study is an excellent example for cooperation, peace and conflict reduction.
If the project gets underway along with saving the Dead Sea it will also be able to provide water for drinking as well as irrigation to 3 countries.
Via: YahooNews
