Don’t Let the Dead Sea Die
Whether it's the rising sea levels, desertification or melting glaciers, climate change is rapidly changing the landscape of our planet. We may be one of the last generations to see some of the Earth's most cherished places, among which is the next door Dead Sea….…
Around three million years ago, what is now the valley of the Jordan River and Dead Sea, was flooded by waters from the Mediterranean Sea. The waters formed a narrow, curved bay which was connected to the sea. Approximately two million years ago, the land between the Valley and the Mediterranean Sea rose to such an extent that the sea could no longer flood the area. Thus, the long bay became the lake we call the Dead Sea.

A unique combination of several factors makes Dead Sea's total attraction: the chemical composition of its water, the filtered sunrays and oxygen-rich air, the mineral-rich black mud along the shoreline, and above all that is the spiritual legacy of the place.
The area has a Biblical history. King Herod used it as his spa, and King David made it his retreat. It is believed to be the site of five biblical cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zebouin and Zoar. More ominously, the Dead Sea witnessed the extreme, supernatural fire that violently destroyed the sinners in Sodom and Gomorrah down to make the lowest dry point on earth and one of the saltiest water bodies in the world. To this salty lake the blessed holy Jordan River feed.
The Dead Sea is fed by the Jordan River and a number of small streams. However, inflow to the Dead Sea has been greatly reduces by the increase use of the Jordan River by Israelis, Palestinians and Jordanians, and because it is located in a very dry hot region it loses much water through evaporation. From a depression of 395 meters below sea level in 1970 it fell 22 meters to 418m below sea level in 2009, reaching a drop rate of 1 meter per year. Moreover, as the water level decreases the characteristic of the Sea and surrounding region substantially change. For example, until 1972 the sea was composed of two separated layers of water. It was only in 1972 that the water of the sea became homogeneous. It is not expected to get separated again into two layers, once the environment is changed it cannot be the turned back to how it was again.

The Dead Sea is in danger, if no action is taken urgently, this unique spiritual and natural place will disappear forever. It's not only that the water level is going down. The ecosystem that used to exist around the Dead Sea will also disappear. Action is to be taken now and not later, once the damage is done and the environment is destroyed no one could anticipate the consequences. I will give you an example; in 90s when the government of Iraq built earthen dikes at the banks of the rivers to destroy the Mesopotamian Marshlands, the plan succeeded and one of the largest wetland systems in the world was reduced to a dusty plain. Now, and after 8 years of international community’s contribution to restore the marshlands, it is obvious that area will be never the same again and nothing could bring back what was once called the Gardens of Eden.
In 2009 World Economic Forum, Jordan announced its plans to convey seawater from the Red Sea near Aqaba to the Dead Sea, with water delivery by 2017. In October 2009, the Jordanians announced accelerated plans to extract water from the Red Sea. Experts are concerned about insufficient time to assess the potential environmental impact. But there is no time, if the depression goes on at the present rate, the Dead Sea will be alive for only another 40 years, and by 2050 it will disappear forever.
It is the responsibility of all to campaign for protecting this unique site. Friends of the Earth (Middle East) want to register the Dead Sea as a World Heritage Site. I believe Dead Sea meets the nomination criteria. As it is a shared site, the process is complicated, but for the sake of Dead Sea, obstacles should be removed.

When you group to the Dead Sea next time to float on its waters and smother yourself in its black mud, watch your steps carefully, you are walking on the land of history, be aware of the Dead Sea's troubles, listen to its cries for help. Remember that we are approaching a time when the sea will die. It can still be saved but time is running out.