When the wellness resort „En Gedi Spa” opened 30 years ago, the guests could jump
right in to the salty water of the Dead Sea. Nowadays they have to take a small train
to reach the coastline that lies 1.5 Km away from the changing rooms. Every year the
water level of the Dead Sea falls around 1 m and thereby puts the unique ecosystem
in existential danger. Sinkholes on the shore are one consequence of the over use
from the Jordan River, the main water sours of the Dead Sea. The river is stowed and
provides Israel and Jordan with drinking water. The rapidly growing agriculture also
consumes vast amounts of water and the one million Syrian refugees, that have fled
to Jordan do their part for an increased demand in fresh water. To save the Dead Sea
and produce water for Jordan, Jordan and Israel are working on a huge infrastructural
project to transport water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea - through the middle of
the desert. The project carries an estimated cost oft ten billion dollars and is supposed
to produce hydropower to run a desalination facility, which provides Jordan with
water and the left salt water could fill the Dead Sea. Environmentalists see this plan
critical, because of the impacts it could have on the fragile ecosystem from both, the
Red and the Dead Sea.
