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The dead sea is drying up rapidly by the year. Is there a way to stop this? Also is there any prophecy or connection In Torah to the dead sea drying up? Is that even a possibility?
You can always pump water into it (the matter has been discussed, with the idea being to get hydroelectric power as the water falls from sea-level). Much of the water that had been flowing into it has been (and is) being diverted for agriculture and human consumption. This is hardly something worthy of a prophesy (i.e. if you divert rivers from flowing into a lake, the lake dries up – happens elsewhere as well).
I think dead sea/Jordan is a remarkable place – it is actually a boundary between African plate and Saudi one. So, Israel is part of Africa and totally different land from Jordan. This might explain why Arabs are (un)luck to have oil, and Israel not.
Akuperma is correct. A great deal of study and analysis has been dedicated to various formulations of a project that would essentially consist of of a 100-125 km conduit diverting sea water from the Mediterranean (with an intake somewhere near the Gaza Strip) flowing down to the Dead Sea with hydroelectric turbines producing roughly 800-1000 MW of peak capacity. Aside from the enormous capital cost , there have also been strong protests by neighboring Arab countries and Israeli environmentalists opposing the project (even though more recent efforts have considered if/how Jordan and Egypt could partner in the effort). The idea has been around for over 50 years. In 1981, the UN General Assembly actually passed a resolution (surprise??) opposing any such project.
AAQ You are aware that there are oil rigs off the Isreali coast.
“..so why haven’t they pumped water yet If its such an easy solution??”
First of all, its NOT “easy” beyond the simplistic notion of digging a 125 KM ditch and letting the water flow downhill from the Mediterranean to the Dead Sea. Huge cost, some significant engineering issues, even greater environmental issues and MEGA geopolitical problems with neighboring countries.
for those looking to pour water from one place to another, first check with Egyptians and Kazakhs what kind of disasters his can create. We are not fully ready to emulate Hashem here.
RW, Israel up to Jordan is part of African tectonic plate, Jordan is part of Arabian. The easiest way to see how different plates match (and the source of original idea) is to cut Africa and South America from your map and then match them to each other. Play with the kids.
Abba: Israeli oil is not same as what Saudis have. In general, oil was mostly a curse for most countries except he most developed ones: Arabs, Iranians, Venezuela, Russia, etc.
Maybe Israelis can connect Hamas tunnels under Gaza with the seas and Gaza will become an island?
AAQ: IDF has some experience with flooding these tunnels, albeit not for hydroelectric purposes.
GH, yes, but Hamas is mainly digging in the wrong direction – parallel to the beach instead of from sea to sea. Maybe need to mess up with their compasses.
Companies in Israel and Jordan which mine the dead sea for mineral products are also contributing to the problem
Should we?
Is it worth the expense?
Sure there is a tourist industry, but you don’t need the sea at its current levels. Even if it continues to shrink there will remain accessible areas for the tourists. So why make a massive investment in it?Aside from evaporation, potash production on both the Israeli and Jordanian sides are biggest water users. A three-way agreement among EY, Jordan and Egypt on regional water use that included a program for replenishing flows in to the Dead Sea would likely be the quickest way to move the ball forward since any unilateral efforts would trigger significant opposition.
GH: Why is Egypt involved they are no where near the Jordan River or the Dead Sea. Connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Dead Sea would bring millions of gallon of salt water to the Jordan River polluting it so that it couldn’t be used for drinking or agriculture purposes.
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