The Dead Sea is Dying

Throughout human history, the Dead Sea has amazed, healed, sheltered and soothed. But now the sea is dying. Or at least shrinking to an alarming extent.

In less than 50 years, the lowest point on earth has dropped even lower - from 1,294 feet below sea level to 1,360 feet. The Dead Sea covers a third less area than it did a century ago; in some places there's so little water you could walk from the Israeli side to Jordan.

By all accounts, it is a disaster of global magnitude, threatening a place of vast religious, historic and environmental significance. Yet what to do about it is proving problematic. [continued]