A new outline plan (TMA 13) for the Dead Sea offers the integration of the environmental disaster in the tourism issue
The planners talk about "developing light and temporary construction on the northern beaches", construction that will not be damaged by the receding water. To overcome after the "escape" of the water there will be "means of transportation to the beaches" (in Ein Gedi this has existed for many years). "The sinkholes will become a tourist "attraction" and access routes (on foot and on horseback) will lead visitors to the view" - in the disaster, the planners later recommend cooperating with the Jordanians and the Palestinians, "who share areas of control around the Dead Sea".
I did not see in the plan a solution to the constant rise of the water level in the southern basin, a rise that floods unique salt marshes in Naot HaKer, a rise that causes the flooding of the highway (90) and the risk to its passengers, a rise that will flood the old workers' camp (these days conservation work is being carried out there), a rise that is caused by greed .
I don't know how and why a delusional and cynical plan to "make friends with disaster" is growing instead of immediate activity to stop the dying of the "sea of death". I don't know which parties with an interest (and lack of understanding) are involved in the plan, (I saw among the names some who understand and know), but the "planners" should know and understand a number of facts: first of all a bit of geography. To this day, the Palestinians do not have "control" even within one meter of the shores of the Dead Sea, perhaps the planners think that Jericho is on the seashore?
Following the retreat of the water, sinkholes are created that "swallow" every building in their vicinity, including temporary buildings, and buildings built of light materials. The sinkholes also endanger existing buildings and infrastructure and it is assumed (and hoped) that they will also swallow foolish plans.
"A trip on horseback or on foot between sinkholes" in an area where sinkholes open up endangers the travelers (and the vehicle), so perhaps the planners intend to develop a betting system for the chance of being swallowed? (A legal casino?).
The story of the Dead Sea is similar to the story of a lake in Russia because the rivers that flowed into it from the lake dried up, where there used to be a beach where fishing boats were moored, an area that was a lake is now a "dust cauldron", as part of the lake's conservation and revival, water was poured into part of it. .. It never occurred to anyone to lead tourists through dust storms to observe the children of fishing boats, but these are Russians, what do they understand.
In the introduction to the program it is stated that around the Dead Sea there are many stakeholders and therefore "conflict of interests"/ not accurate. The contrast is between the Dead Sea factories and all the other entities that "use" the sea, and even before that... those that use the Jordan water, since two factors dry up the sea, all other factors are interested in its survival.
The Dead Sea Park plan does not contribute to its survival, it is said that five years were required for planning. If half the time had been spent on activities to stop the drying up, there would have been no need for a delusional and cynical plan to exploit a disaster for the needs of... tourism? Therefore, even though I saw among the names involved in the "good people" program, it would be good if the plan to exploit the sinkholes was simply swallowed and in its place an immediate action plan to save the dying sea was established.
On the same topic on the science website
13 תגובות
Although I don't know the place nor the concept of sinkhole
But one thing I must say
that the authorities are well aware of the danger and in the name of their money they are ready to turn the danger into a shooting site
And get rich at the expense of the people who put themselves at risk when they get to this site
And their curiosity is not by chance because there are those who arouse their curiosity with aggressive advertisements so that they come
And they risked their lives so that they could get rich.
Caution!!.. Danger!!.. Please don't come!!..
Hey, what's new...instead of repairing, they continue to destroy and make money on it, Vizmeir!!!
Assaf Rosenthal gathered the vegetable,
As someone who calls himself a "scientist" it is very disappointing to read about the level of understanding that is so lacking in relation to the "program" in question.
In total, the majority of the planning materials are exposed to the public on the Internet (on the program's website) as part of the approach of transparent planning to the public. And all you need is to read carefully.
By the way, the material on which you skimmed is not a "plan" but a policy document whose purpose is to examine the Dead Sea with a comprehensive view (yes, the Jordanian side as well) and to formulate policies (in a variety of fields: development, environmental conservation, industry, tourism, etc.).
It is quite disappointing to read that a person who calls himself an ecologist disapproves of a planning evidence that examines one physical and natural complex like the Dead Sea without limiting itself to political boundaries. The environment and nature do not recognize such boundaries.
I will not respond to the attitude that "except for me, no one understands anything".
Best regards,
Danny Amir
TAMA 13 planning team
Asaf:
Thanks.
Very interesting.
1
Yes
The pools are fed by a feed canal, water for the canal is pumped from the northern basin,
From the canal, the water is pumped to the northern pool (5),
That is: to fill the evaporation ponds, two pumping systems are activated,
The need for a feed channel and an additional pumping point arose as a result of the drying up
The area north of the main dam, the drying up of the shallow areas in the northern basin.
2
Yes
To the south of the sea, areas were flooded that until about 30 years ago were part of the Naot-HaKachr salinity,
To the east of Mount Sodom, areas adjacent to the evaporation ponds are getting flooded.
Asaf:
Does this mean that energy is being used today and water is being pumped into that part of the sea (and incidentally flooding areas that were not previously flooded)?
I ask this because in the absence of suction the water should be at the same height everywhere - regardless of the salt on the bottom.
To Michael
To the best of my recollection, in the past I have already referred to the elevation of the level in the southern Dead Sea / in the evaporation ponds,
An increase that results from the deposition of salt (nitrate chloride) at the bottom of the ponds,
The salt is the mineral that crystallizes first and sinks, so that every cycle there is a new layer of salt
At the bottom of the ponds, attempts were made to dig the salt, so far without success,
The formation of a layer of salt at the bottom of the pools raises the water level,
Since the completion of the Great Dam (1964) the water level in the ponds has risen by... 6 meters!
I have also written about the Aral Sea before.
The rise in the level in the southern basin is due to the activity of the Dead Sea factories. They drain the water from the production process.
Asaf:
You mentioned a phenomenon here that I am hearing about for the first time and I think there will be other readers who will be happy if you expand on the subject. I am talking about the phenomenon of the rising water level in the southern basin.
We used to think that the water level in the Dead Sea was only going down. How is it that in this area it actually rises? Is the ground sinking?
By the way - the lake in Russia that you refer to is called YArel died.
To all the tree huggers, the Dead Sea Butcher brings in foreign currency and gives employment to thousands of people. The water level drops due to pumping water from the Kinneret that would have reached the Dead Sea.
Don't forget the new request of the Dead Sea Enterprises - the construction of pool 6 - in the entire dry section between the current pools and the remaining sea, in front of Masada.
This pool will increase the evaporation areas by 15%, and lower the level by an additional 2 cm every year!
The fault as I see it is not with the owners of the factories, since they are uninhibited capitalists and do not hide it (and no, donations in the millions do not help either), but with our honorable country, which allows all this to happen.
Israeli insolence, instead of taking responsibility and trying to fix one of our only natural wonders, is trying to extract a few more shekels from the victim's mutilated corpse.