Water Wheel Nov/Dec 2023: Water Resource Management

Abstract

Dead Sea: Death march or turnaround strategy? The Jordan River drainage area forms a unique and delicate freshwater ecosystem. It stretches from the Lebanon Highlands and Hermon Mountain ranges to the Dead Sea over a distance of 223 km in a north-south direction. The height of the water level of the Dead Sea is (at the time of writing) indicated as 437 m below sea level. This is consequently the lowest-lying landmark on Earth (Sevil and Gutiérrez 2023). The salt concentration of the water is about 340 grams per liter. Today, the Dead Sea area is experiencing serious environmental problems, such as a decrease in the water level, increases in the salinity of the water, and the emergence of sinkholes on the shore. It is crucial to investigate the causal factors of the phenomena and put together effective action plans to conserve and efficiently maintain the Dead Sea and the Jordan River Rift Valley as natural assets.

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