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Israel Launches First Plan to Save Sea of Galilee

by Mackenzie Landi
Israel Launches First Plan to Save Sea of Galilee

Quietly and out of the spotlight, Israel’s Water Authority is preparing for a historic moment: for the first time anywhere in the world, desalinated seawater will soon be pumped into a freshwater lake. The Sea of Galilee, Israel’s national reservoir, will be the global pioneer in this groundbreaking project.

After a series of droughts pushed the lake dangerously close to the “black line” — the point where water extraction is considered harmful — officials are now moving to reverse years of decline. On Monday, the lake’s water level stood only 22 centimeters above the lower red line. For years, Israelis and the millions of vacationers at the Sea of Galilee have witnessed the lake recede, sometimes walking hundreds of meters to reach the shoreline. Public campaigns such as “Israel is drying up” became part of national life.

Now, the Water Authority is set to take unprecedented action. In the coming weeks, desalinated water from Israel’s Mediterranean coast will be diverted into the Sea of Galilee. “The lake is losing a centimeter of water a day in these dry summer months due to natural evaporation. We are eagerly awaiting the inflow and hope that with desalinated water we can guarantee a high lake level for Israelis and tourists alike,” said Idan Greenbaum, chairman of the Kinneret Cities Association.

Continue reading this article on ynetnews.com

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