A Dropping
Water Level
The water level of the
Dead Sea has declined over 21 m from 1930 to 1997, and alone 12 m in the
last 20 years. In less than a century the water level has fallen by
approximately 25 m. In the past few years, the water level fell at a rate of
80-100 cm per year, with the average rate of fall accelerating in recent
years. As a result, the Dead Sea surface area has shrunk by about 30% in the
last 20 years.
Observed Drop in the water level of the
Dead Sea between 1967 and 2003
Sinkholes
It is not only the Dead
Sea that is living up to its name, but the environment of the whole Dead Sea
Basin is degrading. Many scientists say that as water drains away from
the Dead Sea, the porous rocks beneath the region are drying out. It means
the rocks are no longer able to support the weight of those above them and
subside under the pressure. As a result, sinkholes and land subsidence have
opened up along the shoreline, caused by lowered water tables and
groundwater over-exploitation. Furthermore, the decline of the Dead Sea also
affects the freshwater springs on its shores (e.g. Ain Fashkha, Ain Turiba)
that support a unique biodiversity.
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A
Future for The Dead Sea: Options for a More Sustainable Water Management
Threats 
