Dead Sea ...surely drying up, and could be gone completely in 50 years

Dry branches are covered with salt in the Dead Sea December 16, 2008. The Dead Sea is slowly but surely drying up, and could be gone completely in 50 years if no action is taken. The water level is dropping at close to one metre (three feet) per year due to a sharp decrease in inflow from the Jordan and other rivers whose waters now irrigate fields. Picture taken December 16, 2008.

Israeli soldiers stand near the meeting point between the Jordan River and the Dead Sea March 18, 2009. The Dead Sea is slowly but surely drying up, and could be gone completely in 50 years if no action is taken. The water level is dropping at close to one metre (three feet) per year due to a sharp decrease in inflow from the Jordan and other rivers whose waters now irrigate fields. Picture taken March 18, 2009

A fence is covered with salt on the shore of the Dead Sea near Ein Gedi December 8, 2008. The Dead Sea is slowly but surely drying up, and could be gone completely in 50 years if no action is taken. The water level is dropping at close to one metre (three feet) per year due to a sharp decrease in inflow from the Jordan and other rivers whose waters now irrigate fields. Picture taken December 8, 2008.