Human interference with nature is exceeding the required limits, hampering the natural resources since a long period of time. And now it's the Dead Sea that is in danger of drying; it is rapidly deteriorating and shrinking about a meter every year.
Heart of the Syrian-African rift valley, the Dead Sea lies 429 meters below the sea level, making it as the lowest point of the world. A sea bordered by Jordan, Israel and Palestine is one of the wonders of the world. The Dead Sea is also known as the Salt Sea because it contains a high level of sodium chloride, which makes people float on water.
People around the globe visit the Dead Sea to float on it as the density of salt does not allow anything to sink. The sea's special properties attract people from different parts of the world. It has 10 times more magnesium, potassium, calcium chloride and bromide with respect to other seas and oceans. It has healing properties since ancient times believed in treating skin problems, heart and lung conditions.
Latest research shows that the development of tourism department and construction of hotels have been interfering with the Dead Sea since a long time. These developments are slowly killing the Dead Sea according to environmentalist group EcoPeace Middle East.
The drainage of Jordan River into the Dead Sea has been diverted, interfering with natural water way that kept the sea full. The environmentalist group wrote on their website: "Far and away the biggest cause of the rapid disappearance of the Dead Sea is the lack of water coming into it from its traditional sources - the Jordan River. Construction of dams, storage reservoirs, and pipelines has greatly reduced water inflows into the Dead Sea."
"While much of this water is being used by the Israelis, Jordanians, and Palestinians for basic domestic consumption, most goes towards highly subsidized and inefficient agriculture," the CNN reported.
Human interferences include diverting the river drainage system, construction of mining extraction industries, and usage of water in cosmetics. According to the peace treaty between Jordan and Israel, a canal from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea has to be constructed to keep up the water levels in the sea.
The Dead Sea is no saltier but tastes toxic according to the swimmers who swam the nine-mile sea from Jordan to Israel in the account of bringing awareness to the falling water levels. Although the swimmers wear a mask to protect their eyes and mouth, one of them reports burning sensation of eye balls as if the water is an acid.
According to Ezekiel 47:8-9 (The Israel Bible): "Then said he unto me: 'These waters issue forth toward the eastern region and shall go down into the Arabah; and when they shall enter into the sea of the putrid waters the waters shall be healed. And it shall come to pass that every living creature wherewith it swarmeth whithersoever the rivers shall come shall live; and there shall be a very great multitude of fish; for these waters are come thither that all things be healed and may live whithersoever the river cometh.
A Jewish woman reports that Bible Prophecies are coming true for the Dead Sea with fishes near the seashores - due to water levels dropping there are sink holes forming. While scientists prove it to be Dead Sea with no properties to sustain life few things are going against the nature. It is receding one meter per year.
