Question

Which of the following statements best describe why the Dead Sea's water levels are decreasing?
The Dead Sea is the final destination for the water of the Jordan River; there is no outlet.
High levels of salt make the Dead Sea a poor environment for aquatic life.
More water is being siphoned off the Jordan River for agriculture.
The extraction of numerous minerals has left the sea at risk of shrinking.

Answer 1

Best choices: 3 and 4.

- 3 (More water being siphoned off the Jordan River for agriculture): Correct — large upstream diversions, dams and irrigation have drastically reduced inflow to the Dead Sea.
- 4 (The extraction of numerous minerals has left the sea at risk of shrinking): Correct — mineral and potash operations use evaporation ponds and remove water, accelerating the drop.

Notes on the others:
- 1 is true (the Dead Sea is a terminal lake with no outlet), and that makes it sensitive to reduced inflow and evaporation, but it is not the direct cause of the recent decline.
- 2 is true (high salinity limits life) but it does not explain the falling water levels.