For SkyWatch Friday here are some non-rain clouds above the Sea of Galilee, the lowest fresh water lake on earth.
This 5 meter high stainless steel visual display at the seashore promenade measures the level of Israel's national lake by means of advanced digital technology.In Hebrew the lake is called the Kinneret, from the work kinor, which meant harp or lyre. You can see that shape in the cut-out.
The openings of the top and bottom represent the Jordan River.
The lake has been shrinking for the last five years due to drought. This little harbor used to be full of water.
The digital figures in the fancy display did not show up well in the photo, but I can tell you the lake is 214.29 meters below sea level (roughly minus 703 feet) at its surface. That is 5.4 meters or about 18 feet short of being full (or "below the upper red line" as we say).
Now the boats in the former cove are rotting on dry land. We Israelis are quite obsessive about following the level of our beloved Kinneret. Twitter even has KinBot, a Kinneret bot.
If the level drops about one more meter, we will have to stop taking water from the lake . . .
and start importing water from Turkey and quickly build more desalination plants.
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Let's pray for a rainy winter that will save the Sea of Galilee.
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Fantastic shot of the Sea of Galilee sculpture! I'm amazed with the very low water level... this looks terrible, hope it rains soon!
ReplyDeleteI think you might enjoy what I posted today... :-)
I didn't know there was a kinbot. I think I'm going to have to follow it. It's terrible to think how far the level of the lake has fallen just in the twenty years that I've been here :(.
ReplyDeleteJM, yes, it is serious.
ReplyDeleteYour archaeology post today is stupendous!!! Wow!!
Robin, yeah, you're right, the lake has had its ups and downs for that long, mostly downs. I remember when there were storms the waves would come into the seaside restaurants.
Sad to think the level has fallen so low! Terrific shots and an interesting post as always, Dina.!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
Sylvia
Hope rain comes soon!
ReplyDeleteShalom & Aloha, Friend!
Comfort Spiral
Fantastic sculpture.
ReplyDeleteSydney - City and Suburbs
Dina,
ReplyDeleteSounds expensive and I would imagine water rationing is a way of life by now. We get droughts here too. One about 15 years ago lasted 7 years and there was nearly no water in the lakes. I'll add you to my prayer list- pray for rain in Israel! Now that's an awesome prayer and I can't wait to share it with my bible study group.
Caprice
Great post and photos of the disappearing lake. We have been thru droughts here and the lake near my house has gone down to a stream but luckily it always comes back. It would be scary if it didn't return.
ReplyDeleteThat's a sad looking harbor! In California we know about water shortage - almost every year we have to buy water from another state, like Colorado, etc. for drinking water. And almost every year there is a threat of water rationing.
ReplyDeleteit's on my prayer list!
Global-warming has knocked but are we listening ...i too join you in praying for a rainy winter.
ReplyDeleteI will keep rain in my prayers for you this week!!! Beautiful pictures, that sculpture one is awesome!!! informative post too, thank you for sharing what is going on in your part of the world. happy skywatch=)
ReplyDeleteI really like the first shot.
ReplyDeleteInteresting view of the Sea of Galilee. We have shots of docks far from the docks on lakes here a few years ago. I hope your skies drop some ran over the region soon!
ReplyDeleteDear Dina,
ReplyDeleteIt is really very sad to see the Sea of Galilee in this situation. I hope you will have lots of rains this winter in Israel.
Friendly greetings from Turkey,
These are really fabulous photos, Dina. They really illustrate the problems you are facing right now with your water shortage. We're having problems here in Hawaii also. I believe we're really over populated here for the resources available.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Pics! I was not aware of the drought . I just took time & prayed for rain . Thanks so much for info.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Myrna
Its hard to imagine a lake so far below sea level. Great pictures. I really liked the stainless steel sculpture.
ReplyDeleteVery nice choice for skywatch. I hope you have a nice, wet winter!
ReplyDeleteLove the way you framed the shot! Wow! Sea of Galilee! Do hope it rains.
ReplyDeleteDina, I hope rain comes very soon.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful images, that well depict the situation there.
Shalom dear blog friends.
ReplyDeleteSo nice to have readers who take seriously a wish for prayers for rain. Thank you! I'd better get my rainwear ready!
I've watched a documentary film about this lake. I really hope there is a more stringent regulation about the use of water from this lake. Beautiful photos, Dina.
ReplyDelete