Helping Save Dead Sea Tourism
May 24, 2011
The rising water levels near the Dead Sea hotels are a result of water the Dead Sea Works pumps into the sea. The company does this to maintain operational efficiencies as it harvests minerals from its evaporation ponds.
“Without adding extra this extra water, the southern part of the Dead Sea would all but disappear,” says Prof. Alon Tal of BGU’s Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research.
But at the same time, the water levels near the hotels are rising at a rate of about 200 milimeters per year, which will cause flooding in the hotels if something is not done about it.
Tal recently chaired the committee appointed by the Dead Sea Preservation Company, a branch of the Tourism Ministry, to determine the most environment Researchally sound method of addressing the problem. The team determined the best solution is to mine the salt from the southern part of the Dead Sea and transporting it to northern Dead Sea which is not lined with hotels.
Israel’s Tourism and environment Researchal Protection Ministries just announced that they intend to put the salt harvesting plan into action as part of a plan to improve tourism infrastructure and attractions in the area.
Tourism Minister Stas Meseznikov said that he sees the Dead Sea Works as a significant contributor to employment to Israelis in the Dead Sea region, and expressed confidence that they would shoulder a large portion of the cost of mining and relocating the salt.
“No less important than the decision to pick the environment Researchally correct alternative is the apparent determination of the minister to see that the ‘polluter pays’ for this new expensive infrastructure and not the Israeli tax payer,” says Tal.
ABOUT AMERICANS FOR BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY
By supporting a world-class academic institution that not only nurtures the Negev, but also shares its expertise locally and globally, Americans for Ben-Gurion University engages a community of Americans who are committed to improving the world. David Ben-Gurion envisioned that Israel’s future would be forged in the Negev. The cutting-edge research carried out at Ben-Gurion University drives that vision by sustaining a desert Silicon Valley, with the “Stanford of the Negev” at its center. The Americans for Ben-Gurion University movement supports a 21st century unifying vision for Israel by rallying around BGU’s remarkable work and role as an apolitical beacon of light in the Negev desert.
About Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev embraces the endless potential we have as individuals and as a commonality to adapt and to thrive in changing environments. Inspired by our location in the desert, we aim to discover, to create, and to develop solutions to dynamic challenges, to pose questions that have yet to be asked, and to push beyond the boundaries of the commonly accepted and possible.
We are proud to be a central force for inclusion, diversity and innovation in Israel, and we strive to extend the Negev’s potential and our entrepreneurial spirit throughout the world. For example, the multi-disciplinary School for Sustainability and Climate Change at BGU leverages over 50 years of expertise on living and thriving in the desert into scalable solutions for people everywhere.
BGU at a glance:
20,000 students | 800 senior faculty | 3 campuses | 6 faculties: humanities & social sciences, health sciences, engineering sciences, natural sciences, business & management, and desert research.
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