The Dead Sea Has No Inflowing Rivers Today

Currently, no rivers flow into the Dead Sea. Historically, the Jordan River was its primary inflow, supplying ~1.3 billion m³/year. However, massive upstream diversions for agriculture and domestic use (Israel, Jordan, Syria) since the 1960s have reduced the Jordan's flow to a trickle (<100 million m³/year, mostly saline agricultural return flow and sewage).

Minor ephemeral wadis (flash flood channels) occasionally reach the shore, but no perennial streams exist. This inflow deficit—combined with high evaporation (~1.5 m/yr)—causes the sea level to drop ~1 m/year, shrinking surface area and increasing salinity.

Proposed remedies (Red Sea–Dead Sea conveyor, Mediterranean–Dead Sea canal) remain unimplemented due to cost, politics, and environmental concerns.