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Dead Sea  It is not actually an ocean, But a large lake full of salt water. About 67 kilometers (42 mi) long and 18 kilometers (11 mi) wide, this lagoon is rich in salt. As it is 8.6 times saltier than normal sea water, we can float in this sea without swimming. Most tourists are often seen reading books and newspapers while floating in the lagoon. Due to high salinity, it is not suitable for drinking water or habitat for living organisms. Hence it is called Dead Sea. Water from many rivers stagnates here. But, from here the water does not rush anywhere else. This is where the water of the rivers finally reaches. When we hear the name Dead Sea, do we think of a sea without any life? That is wrong. A variety of salt-eating microorganisms thrive in the Dead Sea. Examples of microorganisms are Halobacterium, Halobium and Tunalella. They are capable of making food using sunlight. They produce by themselves a natural substance similar to chlorophyll in plants and with its help produce food. Not only that, there are springs under the Dead Sea. It is the most hollow area in the world. 423 meters (1388 feet) deep at sea level. Potassium, magnesium, bromides and other substances are available in large quantities in this sea. These are used in chemical and chemical fertilizer industries. In Egypt, mummies were preserved for thousands of years because of a type of material taken from the Dead Sea. If you have to drink two gulps of Dead Sea water, swelling of the vocal folds will be noticed. So you may not be able to breathe. If the Dead Sea water gets into the eyes, there is a risk of loss of vision. Medicinal properties mixed with Dead Sea water and mud are used to treat skin diseases. This mud is believed to cure certain skin disorders including psoriasis. This is why many people come here and apply Dead Sea mud on their body.This is why Dead Sea has the name of the lowest health spa and natural spa. Egyptian Queen Cleopatra is said to have licensed a factory to manufacture cosmetics and pharmaceuticals from minerals found on the shores of the Dead Sea. Up to 1960, salinity was observed to decrease in the upper part of the lagoon and increase in depth. As the Jordan River was diverted for irrigation and rainfall decreased, the amount of water the Dead Sea received decreased. Since 1975, the surface salinity of the Dead Sea has increased.There are two reasons for this: 1. Mixing into the sea by rivers of the surrounding area (mineral salts in river water) 2. Water leaving the sea only by evaporation. The Jordan River, the main water source of the Dead Sea, is currently shrinking and so the area of the dead sea is also shrinking. Large withdrawal of water for human use through the Jordan and Yarmouk rivers is said to be the one main reason. Another reason is Israel and Jordan draw water from the Dead Sea for their Potash Industries. The city of Jericho (Ericho) near the Dead Sea is believed to be the longest continuously inhabited place in the world. The water level of the Dead Sea has been decreasing by 0.7 meters per year in the last thirty years. The volume of water is decreasing by 0.47 cubic km per year. The water surface is also decreasing at the rate of 4 sq km per year. These studies are a wake-up call for other developing countries. Every country should implement the necessary plans for prudent management of water resources. |