Written by Zvika Gasner Koheleth 12-December-2024 (Originally 12-September-2019, Edited 31-August-2021) Phtography by: Angela Hechtfisch

Dead Sea sinkholes

The Dead Sea sinkholes (in Hebrew : “Bolaan”) in the Dead Sea are caused by artificial causes of environmental damage from industrial activity around the Dead Sea. Another reason is the lack of water flow from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea via the Jordan River, especially in drought years.

The size of the sinkhole is not constant, the largest measured so far is about 11 meters deep and about 8 meters in diameter. The reason for the stinginess of the sinker at the Dead Sea is the decrease of the water level as a result of reduction of water flow Through the Jordan River (for reasons of lack of rain and increase in water quota used by Jordan’s state), evaporation of the seawater, and the activity of the potassium plant industry on both sides by Israelies and the Jordanian. To date, 3,000 Dead Sea sinkholes have been counted in various sizes.

As to Professor Shlomo Shoval of the Open University in Tel Aviv, the sinkhole at the Dead Sea is created once the groundwater from the équiper flows and takes the position of the retreat Dead Sea salty water, these groundwater dissolves the salt layer in the ground. At the end of the process, the upper layer collapses, and the sinkhole is created.

Since the sinkholes were created as a result of the decline in the water level of the Dead Sea, the possibility of the “Sea Cannel” which will connect the Dead Sea with the Red Sea in Eilat, or the Mediterranean Sea (utilizing the differences in altitude), or even through the Sea of Galilee, will compensate for the decline in the level. The assessment will take about 30 years to complete the shortage for this project. To this so-called “Sea Cannel” project connection the Mediterranean- Dead Sea has many objections from environmentalists.