AtlasIslamica

Dead Sea Sinkholes

Due to the diversion of water from the Jordan River (which feeds the Dead Sea) and mineral mining from its waters in the south, Dead sea has been shrinking rapidly, creating these weird sinkholes around it’s banks

Ein Gedi, Israel occupied Palestine

Coordinates: 31.4512, 35.3836

The water of Dead sea surface is currently receding by about 3 feet (1 m) per year

This decrease has allowed the penetration of fresh ground water into the underground layer, which dissolved the salt layer and created sinkholes. Presently there are over 5000 sinkholes spread across the west bank of the Dead Sea, some of which are filled with water originating from rainfall, flash floods and spring water.

These sinkholes have dramatically increased the number of aquatic habitats surrounding the Dead Sea.