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The Dead Sea – also known as the Sea of Salt, the SPECIAL CANCELLATION†Ï·‰†˙ÚÙ‰φÚ¯ȇ†˙Ó˙ÂÁ Valley of Sidim, the Ancient Sea and the Sea of the Arava - is a hypersaline lake that constitutes the eastern gateway into . The sea originally sprawled from Beit HaArava to Sodom, within the area now belonging to the Megilot Dead Sea and Tamar Regional Councils. The current boundaries of the sea run from in the south to Kalia. The Kingdom of Jordan lies along the sea’s Eastern bank. The Dead Sea, the world’s largest spa, is key to Israel’s tourism, thanks to the therapeutic and the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River, or the extreme sports opportunities it offers. Its salinity possibility of transporting water via sea or land. allows for a unique floating experience and the minerals found in the water and in the mud along Residents of the Dead Sea area are working and the shore provide added health benefits while asking to ”bring the Sea back to the Salt”, before bathing. It is an astoundingly beautiful area hosting it is too late. wadis, cliffs and a unique zoological and botanical In order to raise public awareness of this issue, environment. residents have recruited artists and leaders of The Dead Sea is a home and a way of life. public opinion for unique projects such as research, The Dead Sea and its surroundings also have the “Salt of the Earth” conference hosted by Dead religious meaning and the historical heritage, Sea and Arava R & D, a bicycle trek called “Tour pioneership and Zionism that it represents tell the de Dead Sea”, songwriting and promotion of the tale of one of the most fascinating and tumultuous Dead Sea parliamentary lobby. They even periods in the history of Eretz Israel. nominated the Dead Sea in an international campaing to choose the “New Seven Wonders of The Dead Sea, the lowest place on the face of the Nature”. Earth, is a national and global natural treasure, currently situated 422.22 meters below sea level The Dead Sea stamp, initiated by the Israel Philatelic (as of May 2009). This level decreases daily, with Service, is Israel’s salute to its own wonder of the an annual cumulative reduction of up to 1.20 meters world and constitutes an additional step in raising each year over the last 30 years. public awareness in Israel and around the world Receding water levels are due mainly to the to the plight of the Dead Sea. damming of the Jordan River at the Degania Dam, with the operations playing a Mordechai (Mutzi) Dehman Dov Litwinoff minor role as well. The receding water level causes Head of Head of up to $90 million of damage each year, as well as Megilot Dead Sea Tamar Regional Council the terrible harm caused to infrastructure, wildlife and vegetation, among them species that are Regional Council unique to the area which are currently classified as endangered species. Description of the Stamp The possibility of flowing water from the Red Sea An ibex along a rocky cliff in the Judean Desert, a into the Dead Sea is currently being examined. section of the Dead Sea with salt “sculptures”, a This project is a joint venture of the World Bank, floating tourist, the Dead Sea against the the government of Israel and the Kingdom of Jordan. background of the Dragot Cliffs and the Edom It is one of the largest projects of its type in the Mountains in Jordan . world and will be very costly and fraught with The first day cover features the Dead Sea and salt environmental and economic risks. By the time it ”sculptures”. is implemented, if it will be implemented, the water * Photographs: M.A.N. Eshkol Marketing Group Ltd., Miller level is expected to decrease by an additional 30 Tryoakas Media Ltd., Megilot Dead Sea Regional Council, meters. Itamar Greenberg, Doron Nissim. Residents of the Dead Sea area, researchers, scientific and environmental bodies all demand that additional alternatives be examined: the natural alternative – rehabilitation of the southern Jordan River through construction of a water canal from Issue: June 2009 Designer: Meir Eshel ∞∑∂≠∏∏∑≥π≥≥†∫ψ≠†È‡Ï·‰†˙Â¯È˘‰ Stamp Size: 30.8 mm x 61.6 mm ∂∏∞≤±†ÂÙÈ≠·È·‡≠Ï˙†¨±≤†ÌÈÏ˘Â¯È†˙¯„˘ Plate no.: 754 (no phosphor bar) The Israel Philatelic Service - Tel: 972-76-8873933 Sheet of 9 stamps, Tabs: 3 12 Yerushalayim, Tel-Aviv-Yafo 68021 Printers: E. Lewin-Epstein Ltd. www.israelpost.co.il * e-mail: [email protected] Method of printing: Offset