The Dead Sea Revival Project launched a crowdfunding campaign this week to save the salt lake located at the lowest place on Earth.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
According to the NGO, the Dead Sea is disappearing mainly because the water sources and the historical flow of the Jordan River to the sea have dried up or have been diverted. Other causes include factories and industries, both on the Israeli and the Jordanian side, that pump out large quantities of water to extract minerals.
The funds are aimed to establish a brand new Dead Sea Boat experience at the northern end of the Dead Sea as part of the NGO's mission to share the story of the unique site with the world and influence public opinion and global support.
"I fell in love with and rediscovered the Dead Sea on private boat tours starting in 2016," founder Noam Bedein, who is a photojournalist, said. "Since then I have returned countless times to capture the ever-changing landscape as well as the environmental drama and the primordial beauty of" the site.
"Today, 98% of the remaining northern Dead Sea is no longer accessible to the public. Its famous beaches were closed because of the drop in the water level and along its shores over 7,000 sinkholes appeared and about 700 new ones are discovered every year. Our goal is to launch excursion packages accompanied by environmental and educational content by 'World Water Day 2023' (March 22).We started this campaign to help raise funds for the development of the project."
Some 430 meters below sea level, the Dead Sea is one of the world's saltiest bodies of water and due to its unique qualities was even a finalist in the Seven World Wonders contest.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!