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The Dead Sea Relentlessly Contracts
(Times of Israel) Sue Surkes - Israel's Regional Development Ministry reports that since 1976, the Dead Sea's surface area has almost halved and its elevation has dropped more than 40 meters. This retreat has exposed more than 300 sq. km. of seabed, and today the area is peppered with 7,000 sinkholes. Buildings, agricultural areas and beaches have been abandoned. In 2013, Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority agreed upon a Red Sea to Dead Sea pipeline that will convey seawater and the salty byproduct of a new desalination plant in Aqaba to the lake to arrest its decline. The project will cost Israel more than $1 billion, but it is of no economic value to Israel. It mainly benefits Jordan, and it will require Israel to purchase costly desalinated water from Aqaba when it already can desalinate water from the Mediterranean Sea for much less.