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Why has the Dead Sea’s water level fallen sharply since the 1960s?
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Dead Sea
Salt deposits at the Dead Sea near Masada, Israel.
The Dead Sea’s water level has declined sharply since the 1960s primarily due to human activity.12
The two main factors contributing to this drop are:
- Diversion of the Jordan River: The Jordan River, which historically provided nearly all of the lake's water, has had much of its flow diverted by Israel and Jordan. This reduction in inflow is considered the principal cause of the receding water level.13
- Commercial Water Use: Both countries have significantly increased their use of the lake’s water for commercial purposes, including mineral extraction in evaporation pools.124
As a result of these activities, the lake level has dropped more than 100 feet (30 meters) since the mid-20th century and continues to decrease by approximately 4 feet (1.2 meters) annually. This ongoing decline has raised significant environmental concerns, leading to international discussions regarding water conservation and potential infrastructure projects to restore the lake's levels.14