In other parts of the world, a glass of clean water is often a luxury. This is illustrated in one of the most significant places in world history, the Dead Sea, located in the southern part of Israel. It is one of the most unique places on earth. Since it is 1385 feet below sea level, it distinguishes itself as the lowest place on the surface of the earth. Water can’t escape except through evaporation and this leaves behind nearly everything that was dissolved in the water when it flowed into the Dead Sea from the Jordan River and other streams. It is Israel’s and Jordan’s natural waste dump.
Second, the Dead Sea is the second saltiest body of water on earth, 8.6 times saltier than the oceans. This means it is a 33.7% salt solution. Deeper water is saltier so 300 feet down the salt precipitates to the bottom. The Dead Sea is 42 feet long, 11 miles wide, and 1240 feet deep, making it also the deepest salt lake in the world.
Over the last several thousand years, the mineral water flowing into the Dead Sea has left vast stores of magnesium, bromine, caustic soda, potash, and sodium chloride. It was estimated that the Dead Sea area holds at least two trillion dollars worth of fertilizer compounds (presently 1.9 billion tons of potash), awaiting extraction. What has made the Sea dead has actually brought life to the surrounding economy.
The serious problem that has arisen, however, is that water level in the Dead Sea is dropping, presently at three feet a year. This means since 1970, the level has dropped 72 feet. Why is this happening? First of all, very little rain falls in the area. The northern part of the Sea only gets about 4 inches of rain throughout the year, while the southern section gets about 2 inches. Also, manufacturing in the northern part of the country, and irrigation take away 90% of the normal amount of water flowing through the Jordan River.
Some believe the salts in the Sea have therapeutic value and, for this reason, they are taken out of the Dead Sea and sold. Desalination plants in the southern area extract these salts and also provide fresh, clean wate. This demand for manufacturing and agricultural water has lowered the water table in the country, making it difficult to provide well water for the people.
Of course this water level drop affects the entire country. For example, this drop has caused the Dead Sea to actually change shape. The bottom third of the Sea has always been much shallower than the rest. Perhaps the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, whose infamy is told in the Old Testament book of Genesis, were located in this area. But with the water level dropping, this southern area is drying up and is now the Lisan Peninsula (Arabic for “tongue” because of its shape) has completely separated the northern and southern parts of the Sea.
Of course, the Dead Sea is a great tourist attraction and a continued drop in its level may have an effect on this source of income. Frankly, the Dead Sea a healthy place to be: it has increased air pressure, high levels of oxygen, low levels of allergens, and decreased ultra-violet solar radiation.
Presently Israel and Jordan are examining the possibility of a joint project called the “Two Seas Canal”. This would involve pumping salt water 125 miles from the Gulf of Aqaba of the Red Sea to the Dead Sea. As the water falls into the Dead Sea, it would generate hydroelectricity and the water would then be desalinated, providing 850 million cubic meters of fresh water a year.
People in the west surely take for granted a glass of fresh, clean water. Other nations must go to great lengths or limit its use to provide sufficient fresh water for the people. Though even our dependable sources of water are threatened, wise stewardship will hopefully continue to permit us to enjoy this life-giving liquid for years to come.
But if you are in an area where suitable water is difficult to obtain, you would do well to check out the Berkey Filters. The Travel Berkey, or any of their models, ship with Black Berkey Filters that are so powerful, they are able to remove microscopic bacteria without taking out the minerals beneficial to your health. There is virtually no other water filter system that can do this.
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