Mediterranean-Dead Sea Canal

    

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                Would this project work perfectly with the Red Sea - Dead Sea Canal? 

 

There is a difference in elevation from about 200 m to 400 m between the Mediterranean Sea and Jordan River valley.  Many planners look at this geographic factor as an advantage to building a hydro-electric power plant in this area would be beneficial (Stern and Gradus, 2002). 

 

It is important to note that although the Mediterranean Sea-Dead Sea canal can hypothetically be used independently of other projects; all available research and information evaluate this project in conjuncture with a Red Sea-Dead Sea Canal

 

 

 
 (Photo credit: Beyth, 2007)

Brief Background      
 

    Many people believe that the first person to advocate for a Mediterranean-Dead Sea project was Theodor Herzel (Stern and Gradus, 2002). But according to Beyth, William Allen in 1855 first proposed for this project.  His idea appeared at around the same time that it was discovered that "Dead Sea Rift lies much lower than the global surface of the seas." (Beyth, 2007). Allen suggested that the building of a waterway that connected the three bodies of water would be cheaper than building the Suez Canal.

 

    The idea of Mediterranean-Dead Sea Canal was revived during the 1980s for the purpose of power generation following the oil crisis of the 1970s. The Mediterranean Dead Sea Company Ltd. in 1983 studied various alternatives for such a canal. The canal project, essentially a hydro-electric scheme to divert sea water from the Mediterranean to the Dead Sea to produce energy, would cost an estimated $1.1 billion and be completed around 1990. It would to run from the Mediterranean, crossing southern Israel and the Gaza Strip, to the Dead Sea. Israel said its direct benefits would include energy production, cooling of thermal power stations, establishment of solar ponds on the Dead Sea, and desalination of seawater (Beyth, 2007).