The Shrinking Sea

1The Dead Sea is one of the most unusual places on Earth. Its shore is the lowest point on dry land, more than four hundred metres below sea level, and its water is almost ten times saltier than the ocean. The water is so dense that swimmers float on the surface without any effort, and it is so salty that no fish can live in it, which is how the sea got its name. Since ancient times, visitors have come to its shores, and today tourists from all over the world cover themselves in its mineral-rich mud.

2Yet this remarkable lake is shrinking. Over the past several decades its water level has dropped by around a metre every year, and its surface area has become much smaller. Beaches and cafés that were once at the water's edge now stand far from it.

3The main cause is simple: far less water flows into the sea than leaves it. The Dead Sea has no outlet; the only way water leaves is by evaporation in the intense desert heat. In the past, the Jordan River brought large amounts of fresh water from the north, balancing what was lost. Today, however, most of that water is used for drinking and farming long before it reaches the sea. In addition, the mineral industry in the south pumps sea water into shallow ponds, where it evaporates and leaves behind valuable minerals such as potash, which is used in fertilisers.

4The falling level has created a dangerous new problem: sinkholes. As the sea retreats, fresh groundwater flows into areas where it used to meet salt water. This fresh water dissolves thick layers of salt hidden under the ground, leaving empty spaces. Eventually the surface above collapses, sometimes without warning. Thousands of sinkholes have appeared along the shores, swallowing parts of roads, fields and buildings, and some areas have had to be closed to the public.

5Saving the Dead Sea will not be easy. Over the years, engineers have proposed bringing water from the Red Sea through a long canal or pipeline. Such projects, however, would be extremely expensive, and some scientists warn that mixing two very different kinds of water could change the Dead Sea's unique chemistry in ways that are hard to predict. Others argue that the best solution is to allow more water from the Jordan River to flow south again. Whatever is decided, experts agree that without action, this extraordinary place will continue to shrink.