Page 67 - Advanced Bible Geography ebook

The Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth at
about 1,300 feet (400 m.) below sea level,
lies at the southern end of the Jordan
Valley. Its waters, with the highest level of
salinity and density in the world, are rich in
potash, magnesium and bromine, as well as
in table and industrial salts.

The Dead Sea's natural pace of recession
has been accelerated in recent years due to
a very high rate of evaporation (5 feet - 1.6 m. annually) and large-scale diversion projects undertaken
by Israel and Jordan for their water needs, causing a 75 percent reduction in the incoming flow of water.
As a result, the surface level of the Dead Sea has dropped some 35 feet (10.6 m.) since 1960. A project
to link the Dead Sea with the Mediterranean Sea by means of a canal and pipe system, which may help
restore the Dead Sea to its natural dimensions and level, is under consideration.

Climate

Israel's climate ranges from temperate to tropical, with plenty of sunshine. Two distinct seasons
predominate: a rainy winter period from November to May; and a dry summer season which extends
through the next six months. Rainfall is relatively heavy in the North and center of the country, with
much less in the northern Negev and almost negligible amounts in the southern areas.
Regional conditions vary considerably, with humid summers and mild winters on the coast; dry summers
and moderately cold winters in the hill regions (including Jerusalem), hot dry summers and pleasant
winters in the Jordan Valley; and year-round semidesert conditions in the Negev. Weather extremes
range from occasional winter snowfall at higher elevations to periodic oppressively hot dry winds, which
send temperatures soaring, particularly in spring and autumn.

Temperatures (minimum-maximum)
Safad Haifa Tiberias Tel Aviv Jerusalem Be'ersheva Eilat

deg F 31-48 48-63 48-64 50-63 43-55 43-63 50-70
January deg C 4-9 9-17 9-18 10-17 6-12 6-17 10-21
deg F 66-84 75-88 73-101 75-86 66-84 68-93 79-104

August deg C 19-29 24-31 23-38 24-30 19-29 20-34 26-40

Rainfall (average)
Safad Haifa Tiberias Tel Aviv Jerusalem Be'ersheva Eilat

Number of Days 58 51 47 46 44 27 5

Mean inches 28 21 16 21 22 8 1
Annual
Rainfall mm. 712 540 407 524 553 207 32

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