Is the Dead Sea Dying?

The Dead Sea, the saltiest body of water on earth and a wonderful natural treasure, is becoming smaller and smaller because of the wrong decisions made by the people who use parts of it.

The Dead Sea is located at the lowest point of the earth, almost 400 metres below sea level. It is 50 kilometres long, but just 40 years ago it stretched 80 kilometres in length. One of the main reasons for the sea’s shrinking is lack of water. 90% of the water that flows in the Jordan River, which traditionally pours in the Dead Sea, is taken to be used for drinking water and agriculture in the fields in Israel and Jordan. Besides, local industry also increased the Dead Sea’s problems. They use the water for its minerals, too. All these reasons cause a real disaster for the sea.

Nowadays, thousands of tourists visit the Dead Sea. Its water is so salty that people can even read a newspaper comfortably while lying on their back on the water. Moreover, the water contains a lot of sulphur, and the thick black mud that is found at the sea’s beach is very useful for people with skin problems. Tourists treat their bodies with the black mud, but like the locals, they don’t think about the Dead Sea’s problems. It can be saved, but time is running out.