The Dead Sea is the largest saltwater lake in the world, located to the west of Palestine’s West Bank and Israel, and to the east of Jordan. It is the lowest point on Earth, sitting 438 meters below sea level.
It is also the deepest saline water lake, where no birds, fish, or plants are found. Now, scientists have discovered another secret about it. They have found mineral chimneys at the bottom of the Dead Sea, which indicate potential sinkhole locations. These chimneys were previously referred to as ‘white smokers’ that contribute to the saline water of the lake.
The Dead Sea has been sinking rapidly, and over the past 50 years, its evaporation has significantly increased, with an average annual reduction of one meter in its water level. This decline in the water level has created new opportunities for scientists to learn more about the lake.
During the research, divers were instructed to collect samples from underwater springs on the western shore of the Dead Sea. While doing so, they were astonished to discover chimney-like structures. These chimneys were emitting a white fluid. Laboratory analysis confirmed that the white fluid originated from nearby fresh water springs.
The white fluid quickly crystallizes, forming the chimneys, and their thickness increases by several centimeters each day. The research suggests that the congregation of these chimneys could provide an early warning of a large sinkhole, which is a significant threat in the region.
The findings of this research were published in the journal Science of the Total Environment. It is worth noting that the Dead Sea is the second most saline lake in the world, with salt content at 34%, compared to the average 3.5% salinity of seawater, illustrating how salty the water of this lake is.
Because of its high salinity, nothing sinks in the Dead Sea; everything floats on the surface. Only microscopic organisms have been found in the Dead Sea, as other life forms cannot survive in such salty water.
