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Why has the northern basin remained the main natural body of water in the Dead Sea?
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Dead Sea
Salt deposits at the Dead Sea near Masada, Israel.
The northern basin of the Dead Sea has remained the primary natural body of water largely due to its physical geography. While the lake's water level has dropped significantly, the northern basin has retained its overall dimensions because its shoreline plunges steeply from the surrounding landscape.1
In contrast, the southern basin was significantly shallower—averaging less than 10 feet (3 meters) in depth—and was eventually subdivided into numerous large evaporation pools for mineral extraction. By the 21st century, these industrial activities caused the southern basin to essentially cease functioning as a natural body of water, leaving the northern basin as the effective, remaining Dead Sea.1