The water level of the Dead Sea is dropping by about three feet a year and may go dry by 2050, says Friends of the Earth in the Middle East. The group is sponsoring a photo competition to raise awareness of the plight of the popular tourist attraction, using the catchy tag line, “Let the Dead Sea Live.” Its campaign calls for the U.N. to take an interest in protecting the sea and for neighboring countries to set up a regional plan to manage the sea. The sea’s water sources are being diverted by industry, agriculture, and towns. But Jordan’s water minister, Hazim el-Naser, said he didn’t think a solution (such as pumping water into the Dead Sea from the Red Sea) was likely in the near future.
