Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., June 11, 2008 Sivan 8, 5768 | | Israel Time: 17:12 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 08:22 11/06/2008 Dead Sea is drying up alarmingly, receded 10 centimeters in May By Zafrir Rinat Tags: Dead Sea, Israel The Dead Sea is drying up at an increasingly rapid pace, with the water level dropping by 10 centimeters last month and eight the month before, according to Mishmar Hamiflas, a group of area residents fighting for the Dead Sea's right to life. The lowest place on earth is now 421.21 meters below sea level. Mishmar Hamiflas officials, who say their data come from the Hydrological Service of Israel, argue that the dipping water level shows that water consumption in the Dead Sea basin is increasing. Advertisement The water level began going down  causing the sea to recede  in the wake of increased use of other water sources, including the Jordan River and its tributaries, along with desert-area streams and groundwater flowing toward the Dead Sea. Other factors contributing to the decline include the Dead Sea factories on the Israeli and Jordanian sides, which dried up some of the water for industrial purposes. The receding sea level has damaged hotels built when the water level was higher, caused the development of underground swallow holes, and led sweetwater to enter the sea, melting underground salt blocks and ultimately causing collapse. Scientists say a continued drop in the water level will significantly shrink the Dead Sea but will not cause it to dry up altogether, because the proportion of salt will rise when the water is particularly low, decreasing the amount of water that evaporates. Dead Sea-area communities and environmental organizations oppose a plan being advanced by the Israeli and Jordanian governments to build a canal that would bring water from the Gulf of Eilat to the Dead Sea, fearing that there would be negative ramifications to changing the composition of the Dead Sea water. They say the water economy must be changed in Israel and Jordan by making agriculture more efficient and increasing desalination, in a bid to revive the Jordan River and resurrect the Dead Sea. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Marketing ploy Israeli satellite TV has a new star - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Through her lens Madonna's next project: documentary about the Israeli-Arab conflict.   1.   Wrong! The lowest place on earth is at the same level it always 03:03  |  Pervert 11/06/08   2.   Resurect the Dead Sea? It will take a Jew to work 03:07  |  Man deVoshkes 11/06/08   3.   #2: What kind of comment is that? 07:54  |  Daniel 11/06/08   4.   to #1 09:42  |  Gershon Reed 11/06/08   5.   hubris 10:10  |  potobac 11/06/08   6.   The Med-Dead Canal, The Red-Dead Canal, & Ezekial`s Vision 10:47  |  Lavi 11/06/08   7.   mert is a curse and everything around him is drying up,2009 too 16:47  |  glenna 11/06/08

Read & React Palestinians: IDF kills girl, gunman in Gaza; Negev man wounded by mortar Responses: 74 Editorial: No good reason for broad IDF Gaza operation Responses: 34 Haniyeh aide: Hamas expects gesture in exchange for Shalit letter Responses: 49 TV: IDF reservists complain their service consists of babysitting young settlers Responses: 21 Alexander Yakobson: Religious rites not needed to join the Jewish people Responses: 21 Rosner's Domain The UN's Complicity With Evil Lieberman for VP? Only 18% want it (WTR) Threatening Iran is wrong (WTR) Poll: Philip Roth, Victor Frankl or Leon Uris? On a par with the policies of President Bush More Headlines 16:47 Olmert tells Kadima: Get ready for party primaries 16:18 Israel: No Gaza raid, we'll give truce talks a chance 17:09 Livni: Future Palestinian state must fit Israel's security needs 15:08 Ahmadinejad: West failing to halt our nuclear victory 17:11 Lebanon: No peace talks before Israel leaves Shaba Farms 16:41 Palestinians: IDF kills 4 in Gaza; Negev man wounded by mortar 13:48 U.S. kosher meat prices likely to soar after raid on Iowa plant 14:34 Treasury announces plan for sharp income tax cuts by 2015 14:35 Self-defense bill for homeowners passes two readings in Knesset 16:41 Border policeman lightly hurt by rock thrower at anti-fence rally 12:49 Despite Egypt snub, Syria is returning to the Arab fold 14:29 Report: Stalker sends sexually explicit letters to woman MKs 16:26 Migrant worker, toddler bitten by snakes, moderately injured Previous Editions Select Day 10 jun 09 jun 08 jun 06 jun 05 jun 04 jun 03 jun 02 jun 01 jun 30 may 29 may 28 may

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