Sitting in the Geography class in school, I remember how fascinated I was when we were being taught all about the Dead Sea. As you probably recall, the Dead Sea is really a lake, not a sea (And as my Geography teacher pointed out, if you understood that, it would guarantee 4 marks in the term paper). It's so high in salt content that the human body can float easily. You can almost lie down and read a book! The salt in the Dead Sea is as high as 35% - almost 10 times the normal ocean water. And all that saltiness has meant that there is no life at all in the Dead Sea. No fish. No vegetation. No sea animals. Nothing lives in the Dead Sea.
And hence the name, Dead Sea.
While the Dead Sea has remained etched in my memory, I don't seem to recall learning about the Sea of Galilee in my school Geography lesson. So when I heard about the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea and the tale of the two seas - I was intrigued.
Turns out that the Sea of Galilee is just north of the Dead Sea. Both the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea receive their water from River Jordan. And yet, they are very, very different.
Unlike the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee is pretty, resplendent with rich, colourful marine life. There are lots of plants. And lots of fish too. In fact, the Sea of Galilee is home to over twenty different types of fishes. Same region, same source of water and yet, while one sea is full of life, the other is dead. How come?
Here's apparently why. The River Jordan flows into the Sea of Galilee and then flows out. The water simply passes through the Sea of Galilee in and then out - and that keeps the sea healthy and vibrant, teeming with marine life.
But the Dead Sea is so far below the mean sea level and it has no outlet. The water flows in from the River Jordan but does not flow out. There are no outlet streams. It is estimated that over 7 million tons of water evaporate from the Dead Sea every day. Leaving it salty. Too full of minerals. And unfit for any marine life.
The Dead Sea takes water from the River Jordan and holds it. It does not give.
Result? No life at all.
Think about it.
Life is not just about getting. It's about giving. We all need to be a bit like the Sea of Galilee.
Tailpiece.
I'd got a call, this evening from the service station, saying that the alternator assembly of my Chevy has gone kaput and that, it needed replacement. The cost is gonna be Rs.30 grand! The order has been placed and the unit will have to come from their depot at Pune. So, no vehicle for our forthcoming trip! Lekha has tied up with her sister for using their car.
And hence the name, Dead Sea.
While the Dead Sea has remained etched in my memory, I don't seem to recall learning about the Sea of Galilee in my school Geography lesson. So when I heard about the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea and the tale of the two seas - I was intrigued.
Turns out that the Sea of Galilee is just north of the Dead Sea. Both the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea receive their water from River Jordan. And yet, they are very, very different.
Unlike the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee is pretty, resplendent with rich, colourful marine life. There are lots of plants. And lots of fish too. In fact, the Sea of Galilee is home to over twenty different types of fishes. Same region, same source of water and yet, while one sea is full of life, the other is dead. How come?
Here's apparently why. The River Jordan flows into the Sea of Galilee and then flows out. The water simply passes through the Sea of Galilee in and then out - and that keeps the sea healthy and vibrant, teeming with marine life.
But the Dead Sea is so far below the mean sea level and it has no outlet. The water flows in from the River Jordan but does not flow out. There are no outlet streams. It is estimated that over 7 million tons of water evaporate from the Dead Sea every day. Leaving it salty. Too full of minerals. And unfit for any marine life.
The Dead Sea takes water from the River Jordan and holds it. It does not give.
Result? No life at all.
Think about it.
Life is not just about getting. It's about giving. We all need to be a bit like the Sea of Galilee.
Tailpiece.
I'd got a call, this evening from the service station, saying that the alternator assembly of my Chevy has gone kaput and that, it needed replacement. The cost is gonna be Rs.30 grand! The order has been placed and the unit will have to come from their depot at Pune. So, no vehicle for our forthcoming trip! Lekha has tied up with her sister for using their car.
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