The Dead Sea has the potential to disappear completely.

The Dead Sea's water level is dropping at a rate of about one meter per year, primarily due to human activities.

The Dead Sea's water level is dropping by about one meter per year. Photo: Moritz Kustner.

The environmental group EcoPeace Middle East says the water level of the Dead Sea, a salt lake located on the border between the West Bank, Israel, and Jordan, is dropping at an alarming rate of about one meter per year, CNN reported.

The Dead Sea is one of the saltiest lakes in the world, with a salinity of approximately 34%. Due to shrinking in recent years, the lake's water is becoming increasingly salty.

In early November, nearly 30 people from around the world swam approximately 15 kilometers across the Dead Sea, from Jordan to Israel, to raise awareness about the declining water levels. They wore masks to protect their eyes and mouths, but one participant still described the experience as "like acid burning your eyeballs."

"It's a harsh environment for those who live here or come here. The lake water is very salty; if you taste it, it's no longer saltwater but tastes like poison," commented Moritz Küstner, a photographer.

Human activity is the primary cause of this situation. "It's not just one country, but the entire region that is destroying the Dead Sea," Küstner said.

The Dead Sea draws its water from other natural sources around it. However, in the 1960s, many of these water sources were diverted, such as Israel's construction of a pipeline to supply water nationwide.

Human activity is the main reason for the decrease in the lake's water level. Photo: Moritz Kustner.

"The mining industry is also a reason for the decrease in sea level," said an expert.

The minerals of the Dead Sea are believed to have healing properties and are often used in cosmetics and other consumer products.

In addition, another reason is that the hot, dry climate of the Middle East makes it difficult for the lake region to replenish its water supply.

Last year, Israel and Jordan signed a $900 million agreement aimed at stabilizing the Dead Sea's water level. They plan to dig a canal connecting the Red Sea to the Dead Sea, supplying water to both countries and pumping approximately 300 million cubic meters of water annually into the Dead Sea.

The canal is expected to be completed in three years, and its effectiveness will require more time to verify.

According to VNE