Swimming Across the Dead Sea To Spotlight Its Decline — Don’t Swallow!
Image by Courtesy of EcoPeace
By Naomi Zeveloff November 15, 2016
Twenty-five swimmers from around the world crossed the Dead Sea from Jordan to Israel today to raise awareness about the deterioration of the natural wonder.
For the first swim of its kind in the salty lake, the swimmers wore full face snorkelling masks to protect themselves from the water, which can be fatal if ingested. They were also accompanied by a medical team to help them in case of emergency.
The swimmers hailed from Denmark, Norway, New Zealand, England, Israel, South Africa and the Palestinian Territories and ranged in age from 30 to 61, the oldest a Palestinian man.
Image by Courtesy EcoPeace
In recent years the Dead Sea has lost a third of its surface area. The Jordan River’s waters are diverted from the sea, causing further degradation, according to EcoPeace Middle East, the Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian group sponsoring the swim.
EcoPeace coordinated with the Israeli and Jordanian military to allow the swim to take place. It began at 7:00 AM and ended at 2:00 PM.
“The Jordan River has always been the life blood of the Dead Sea and cooperation, as witnessed here by the swimmers, is urgently needed to revitalize the Jordan River and help stabilize the Dead Sea,” said Gidon Bromberg, Israeli director of EcoPeace.
Contact Naomi Zeveloff at [email protected] or on Twitter @naomizeveloff
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
