The Economist
"Better red than dead? Israel"
March 17, 2007
The dead sea, which is famous for being the lowest geographical point on the globe, so salty no life exists below its waters; people who swim in it simply float, and people from all over the world flock there to bathe in its therapeutic minerals faces a problem. Every year the surface level drops by about a meter. It is evaporating away. Fresh water from the Jordan River is transferred into the dead sea to replenish its supply, but that is not sufficient. "Studies suggest that the world's lowest body of water won't vanish altogether, but will stabilize at about 100m lower than it is now," the article says. That could lead to environmental disaster, as well as disaster for the tourism industry associated with it. A plan, originally brought to the table by Shimon Peres, proposes the building of a 200 kilometer long conduit to bring water from the Red Sea (at Israel's southern tip) to help stabilize and replenish the Dead Sea. Some of the water flowing through the conduit will be used to supply fresh water to Jordanians, Israelis and Palestinians as well. Peres is pushing the project, which could cost up to up to $5 billion, as part of his vision of peace through economic development. Environmentalists are wary, however, saying that "sea brine added to the hyper-salty, denser Dead Sea will float on the surface mixing in only over years or decades. If so, what draws the tourists in will be lost, and algal blooms could turn the water from blue to reddish-brown," according to the article. The water from the Red Sea would have to climb 125 meters before running downhill into the Dead Sea. It would have to be desalinated and then climb another 1.4 kilometers to reach Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli cities to provide fresh water to the three aforementioned peoples. The cost of all the pumping could possibly outweigh the energy gains of the downhill run. More studies are being conducted to try to answer these questions.
There are definite pros and cons to this situation, but at this point it is difficult to side with a course of action because there is not enough scientific information to prove either side's case. The idea, in theory, is good, especially if it can bring clean water to towns in the West Bank and Gaza, who have a constant problem getting it, but it may be too idealistic. I would most likely be against the plan if it compromised the integrity of the Dead Sea. As long as the sea will stabilize at some eventuality, and never dry up completely, it might just be best to leave it as is. All in all, however, this is definitely NOT the biggest issue on Israel's plate.
"Better red than dead? Israel"
March 17, 2007
The dead sea, which is famous for being the lowest geographical point on the globe, so salty no life exists below its waters; people who swim in it simply float, and people from all over the world flock there to bathe in its therapeutic minerals faces a problem. Every year the surface level drops by about a meter. It is evaporating away. Fresh water from the Jordan River is transferred into the dead sea to replenish its supply, but that is not sufficient. "Studies suggest that the world's lowest body of water won't vanish altogether, but will stabilize at about 100m lower than it is now," the article says. That could lead to environmental disaster, as well as disaster for the tourism industry associated with it. A plan, originally brought to the table by Shimon Peres, proposes the building of a 200 kilometer long conduit to bring water from the Red Sea (at Israel's southern tip) to help stabilize and replenish the Dead Sea. Some of the water flowing through the conduit will be used to supply fresh water to Jordanians, Israelis and Palestinians as well. Peres is pushing the project, which could cost up to up to $5 billion, as part of his vision of peace through economic development. Environmentalists are wary, however, saying that "sea brine added to the hyper-salty, denser Dead Sea will float on the surface mixing in only over years or decades. If so, what draws the tourists in will be lost, and algal blooms could turn the water from blue to reddish-brown," according to the article. The water from the Red Sea would have to climb 125 meters before running downhill into the Dead Sea. It would have to be desalinated and then climb another 1.4 kilometers to reach Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli cities to provide fresh water to the three aforementioned peoples. The cost of all the pumping could possibly outweigh the energy gains of the downhill run. More studies are being conducted to try to answer these questions.
There are definite pros and cons to this situation, but at this point it is difficult to side with a course of action because there is not enough scientific information to prove either side's case. The idea, in theory, is good, especially if it can bring clean water to towns in the West Bank and Gaza, who have a constant problem getting it, but it may be too idealistic. I would most likely be against the plan if it compromised the integrity of the Dead Sea. As long as the sea will stabilize at some eventuality, and never dry up completely, it might just be best to leave it as is. All in all, however, this is definitely NOT the biggest issue on Israel's plate.
I hope it doesn't dry up...it was fun floating in it!!
ReplyDeleteThis seems like a strong case for some environmentalists to get funding passed for new environmental issues. I am starting to find it somewhat scary how many things are proposed to be in decline, not to be funny.
ReplyDelete