Geography
Why the Dead Sea Is Shrinking and Its Environmental Consequences
Quick fact
The Dead Sea's water level drops by roughly 1 meter per year, and more than 6,000 sinkholes have appeared along its shoreline since the 1970s.
Why this is interesting
The Dead Sea, one of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth, has lost about a third of its surface area in the last few decades. What is causing this dramatic shrinkage, and what are the hidden dangers?