HOLY LAND Levels of Sea of Galilee rise, a strategic water resource for the region – AsiaNews

Heavy rains and the melting of the snow have given new life to the reservoir. The Sea of Galilee supplies the inhabited centers and allows the irrigation of many crops. In the critical period it had dropped to 214 meters below sea level. The waters lap the Capernaum convent. The work of the friars committed to clearing the banks.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews) - The level of the Sea of Galilee, Israel's main source of fresh water, has been steadily rising for a few months, so much so that it has reached a height that has not been recorded for over 16 years. As the friars of the Custody confirm on terrasanta.net, this is information of primary importance for a water reserve of strategic importance, because it supplies the centers of the region and allows the irrigation of many crops.

Brother Luca Panza, Franciscan of the Custody of the Holy Land, guardian of the Capernaum convent, confirms "the abundant rains and the fact that the connecting dam has not been opened" with the Jordan River. He continues: "Days of heavy storms have damaged the banks, part of the work of this period is to bring new land and rebuild them. This year the level of the lake has increased by four meters, and we have to reckon with it. "

Located in Galilee, the basin is 160 km2 large and is a religious symbol for Christians and a place of pilgrimage for Jews. In recent years the waters had recorded a retreat, so much so that between 2017 and 2018 the "Sea of Galilee" touched the lowest point at minus 214 meters.

The agricultural production of bananas, which requires huge quantities of water, are among the causes of the decline. The crisis is compounded by the constant draining by Israeli authorities, which has touched 400 million cubic meters per year, and the low levels of precipitation over the past decade.

Population growth is also a factor, which has led to a decrease of one centimeter per day. The drop in water has alarmed environmentalists and experts, because it directly affects the natural environment and causes an increase in salinity, endangering flora and fauna.

Today the state of Israel has limited the drawdown to 40 million cubic meters per year. After all, water is a very precious asset and only a prudent management policy and a collaboration between entities and nations will be able to save the Middle East region, still at risk of crisis.

The last two rainy winters and the melting of the snow on the Golan peaks should contribute to raising the water levels even more which, for the first time since 1992, has exceeded less than 209 meters, with the water (in the photos) having reached the edges and banks.

The rising of the lake waters, however, puts at risk the sanctuaries of the Capernaum area, especially that of the primacy of Peter in Tabga (see photo), one of the most loved and visited places in the Holy Land seen in the past two years by an average of 5 thousand tourists a day, with peaks of 6500.

Today the place of worship is closed to visitors, in the context of the rules for the containment of the new coronavirus pandemic. Not having to deal with "the large numbers of pilgrims", underlines friar Luca, "our service is now to safeguard and protect the place". We are, however, continuing to work on improving the site. We will be ready - he concludes - for the arrival of new pilgrims, which we hope will happen soon ".

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HOLY LAND Levels of Sea of Galilee rise, a strategic water resource for the region - AsiaNews