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

Naomi Zeveloff is the former Middle East correspondent of the Forward, primarily covering Israel and the Palestinian Territories.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO