The Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is drying up. In the past decade, its water level has dropped by nearly 50 feet and its surface has been reduced by a third. The Dead Sea has always been a source of natural deposits in the use of humankind. During the Second Temple period, the oases around its shores were planted with dates and balsam, an important source of income for the kingdoms around the sea. It was such a fertile area that Lot, brother of Abraham chose it as his inheritance. The cliffs and caves around its shores attracted outlaws and dissidents: King David, the Essenes, and many more. The Dead Sea issue of ERETZ Magazine deals not only with the western shores but also the eastern, Jordanian side. The issue includes a guide to the area and a map.