The April 1 City Daily Photo theme day is about triangles.
I'm thinking Israel might be the only country that has both of these two hazard signs:
Old mine fields, whether Israeli or enemy or former enemy ones, continue to be dangerous.
The fence in the photo is in the Golan Heights, not far from Syria.
It certainly kept us dig volunteers strictly on the path as we climbed up to the archaeological site Sussita (Hippos).
Further south in the same Rift Valley you find alarming triangles showing a person falling into a sinkhole!
Bol'anim, literally something that swallows!
Thousands of them have opened up along both sides of the Dead Sea in recent years as the salty lake dries up and the shore recedes.
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UPDATE: Readers are asking about the cause of our sinkholes.
Diminishing water levels in the Dead Sea are causing changes to surrounding groundwater flows.
Diminishing
water levels in the Dead Sea are causing changes to surrounding
groundwater flows. - See more at:
http://www.greenprophet.com/2013/10/mysterious-sinkholes-threaten-to-sink-the-dead-sea/#sthash.MGeve7fF.dpuf
Diminishing
water levels in the Dead Sea are causing changes to surrounding
groundwater flows. - See more at:
http://www.greenprophet.com/2013/10/mysterious-sinkholes-threaten-to-sink-the-dead-sea/#sthash.MGeve7fF.dpuf
Sinkholes in this region (unlike in Florida) are the result of the interaction
between freshwater (in the aquifer) and a subterranean salt layer, buried beneath the
surface. The freshwater dissolves the salt, creating an underground
void which causes the surface to collapse suddenly.Learn more about the phenomenon here:
Diminishing
water levels in the Dead Sea are causing changes to surrounding
groundwater flows. - See more at:
http://www.greenprophet.com/2013/10/mysterious-sinkholes-threaten-to-sink-the-dead-sea/#sthash.MGeve7fF.dpuf
1. Green Prophet has aerial footage of the dramatic sinkholes.2. Slate has the story from the geologist who was swallowed by a sinkhole and spent 14 hours hoping he would be found.
3. Ynet shows video of the Florida house being swallowed and compares our situation to America's.
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Oy, that's a whole lot of having to be careful. Must be quite unnerving.
ReplyDeleteThe last time I was at the Dead Sea for a holiday, we couldn't help but see that the salty lake was drying up and that the hotels on the shore were further and further away from the water.
ReplyDeleteBut sink holes? That is scary.
Good interpretations of the theme, Dina. The warning for mines is to be expected... sinkholes, not so much, but the reason you have seems quite reasonable.
ReplyDeleteIn both cases, a stark environment, to say the least.
Can see why you would have to tread very carefully in these areas Dina, makes me appreciate even more living in a non combat zone.. hope it lasts. A thought provoking post for the theme.
ReplyDeleteFascinating triangle signs, Dina!
ReplyDeleteThe first one isn't a happy sight...
ReplyDeleteLiving dangerously - makes me feel privileged that I do not have to watch out for those!
ReplyDeleteBut why does the sinkhole form, I wonder. Yes, the sea recedes, but whAT IUS THE WEAKNESS IN THE SEABED THAT CAUSES IT TO GIVE WAY LIKE THAT?
ReplyDeleteOops shouting ... sorry. I guess the more climate change affects the planet, the more of the inexpicable will confront us.
Friends, yes, you are all right. But the most worrying thing about sinkholes is that, like so many problems in Israel no one knows--or can decide--what to do about it.
ReplyDeleteJulie, I added an update to the post with an explanation of sinkhole formation. Also some fascinating links.
Van you still buy postcards in the north with the mine sign? This was one of the first photos I ever took in Israel, in 1981 or so
ReplyDeleteI still have some pictures of these sign from my trips in the 90s.
ReplyDeletesuper shot .. great interpretation of this month's theme!
ReplyDeleteOh, I would never see that first sign!
ReplyDeleteGood interpretations of this theme, Dina.
Rob and VP, I guess the mine sign just begs to be photographed. But I don't remember seeing postcards.
ReplyDeleteAh mines, worldwide that sign. The sinkholes one is great! The opposite problem here is the heavy rain causes some sinkholes to appear. Old mine shafts and hollows deep below cave in.
ReplyDeleteHowever living in an area that has seen thousands of years of mankind has its historic compensations, the sinkholes might reveal some.
That is very interesting, Dina! I only knew about the sinkholes in Florida. I saw that on TV. It was frightening. A whole group of high trees suddenly disappeared into a hole in the ground.
ReplyDeleteMy goodness. Shocking to think that signs like these exist and are necessary. Stay safe.
ReplyDeleteNot very encouraging signs, but very good that they are there for a warning.
ReplyDelete