The Dead Sea in Israel

• Dead Sea in Israel

Dead Sea is the lowest portion of the land on Earth. This endorheic salt lake between Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority. The water level in the Dead Sea at 425 meters below sea level and falls at a rate of about 1 meter per year. Maximum depth - 378 meters. This is one of the most saline water bodies in the world, its salinity reaches 33, 7%.

The Dead Sea is fed by several intermittent streams and the Jordan River, in the last 40 years, the volume of incoming water was reduced by almost 15 times.

In the last century the water level fell by 25 meters.

It so happened that I was staying at the resort town of Tiberias, which is located on the shore of Lake Tiberias. And before taking the place had to travel more than 250 km, it is almost all of Israel. All the way to the sea we drove along the border with Jordan and the Jordan River.

To the Jews thoroughly suitable protection of its borders ...

For comparison - looks so calm border of Russia with peaceful Mongols somewhere on the edge of the Altai land.

The border post. Once it is clear that all is well.

In Israel, everything is different, it is noticeable along the border in the section. Plowed strip, additional way for the military and four lines of fences. Motion sensors, strain, all things ...

And for dessert - a minefield. On the background - Jordan.

Half of our journey took place on the territory of the Palestinian Authority. Sometimes we passed the curious village, but my suggestion is to stop and call for ten minutes on a visit to the shooting, the driver-Jew looked at me like I was an idiot and said that even the speed will not slow down. Like, we have Israeli (yellow) room, and it is good that there is still no stones obkidali ...

We went as traveling in a car with air conditioning, and come to the first point shooting.

This is where me and crushed lead plate infernal heat. For my entire life I have never been more in a hot place. Sun was exactly overhead, and there was nowhere to hide from him. During the day, Israeli military drink up to five liters of water - so I am told by our driver. Now I know why.

proved divided into two parts due to the drying sea, north and south.

This is - the north side. It looks like a normal sea among the fiery stones.

Instead of sand on the shore of the salt and multicolored puddles.

The level is now the road, half a century ago it was still under water.

According to my personal feelings, the street was 50 degrees!

Salt stones.

The water in the sea is like a jelly. Only a strong wind, you can watch the waves.

The fall of the level of the Dead Sea is not the only problem threatening this unique corner of nature. In recent decades the sea has turned into a sewage pit for a number of Palestinian cities and villages. The situation is compounded plastic garbage brought by winter floods.

I decided to try it on taste. Tried - salt as salt.

The rich mineralogical composition of the Dead Sea salt allowed to become a unique health resort, which attracts millions of tourists from all corners of the Earth. Pay attention to the thermometer.

I swim in the water and instantly find out where I have burrs or small scratches.

In addition to the unique composition of salts, the Dead Sea and is known for its healing mud, which is extracted from the bottom of the lake.

And this is - the southern part of the sea. It is under the control of mineralogical and chemical plants. Enterprises are extraction of bromine, potassium carbonate and other minerals.

The crystallization of the salts takes place by evaporation of water. For these purposes, the southern part of the sea was turned into a system of interconnected pools.

Scientists believe that a violation of the natural process of water circulation in the Dead Sea will inevitably lead to environmental disaster.

Jordan.

Here is the southern part of the sea from the satellite.

The first harbingers of good environmental disaster being felt today. Lowering of groundwater has led to the formation of underground cavities and subsidence.

Commercial development and use of minerals 80% tributaries flowing in the Dead Sea has led to a drastic drop in the groundwater level. It looks like the tank with fresh water, which is used for the needs of local businesses.

Local transport.

Local road. Excellent quality, among other things.

In the evening the temperature was asleep, and it was easier to move down the street.

An incredibly stinky chemical plant. The air is dust from which burns in his nose, and I want to sneeze.

But in general, there is beautiful ...

This photo was taken of 2,500 km from the Dead Sea. 50 years ago, here in Muinak (Uzbekistan), it was a thriving port on the shore of the Aral Sea. Now the water is gone more than 80 km! But that's another story: