January 20, 2013, Updated January 21, 2013

The much talked about rainstorm that swept through Israel earlier this month has led to great news for the country’s bodies of water. The Dead Sea rose by 10 centimeters – the first recorded increase in volume in a decade.

The Dead Sea’s shore has been steadily receding over the years and numerous campaigns to raise awareness for its plight have take place.

The salty body of water is fed by the Jordan River and streams in the Judean Hills. The stormy weather flooded many of these streams and the runoff waters pushed the Dead Sea to its new level.

Moreover, the Sea of Galilee hit record levels during and after the storm, rising by more than 70 centimeters. The Sea of Galilee’s water also feeds the Jordan River, which in turn feeds the Dead Sea.

In related news, the World Bank recently approved an Israeli-Palestinian-Jordanian project that they say could save the Dead Sea. According to a Globes report, the $10 billion plan will see a mostly underground pipeline built from the north of the Jordanian city of Aqaba to the Dead Sea.

Environmentalists fought against the 10-year project, saying the new canal could destroy the sea’s fragile and unique ecosystem.

Photo by Shutterstock.

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