Freshwater pools emerging along the retreating shoreline of the Dead Sea, alongside the formation of thousands of sinkholes, have renewed discussion among some religious believers who see parallels with biblical prophecies, while scientists attribute the changes to well-understood geological processes.
The Dead Sea, located between Israel and the occupied West Bank, has long been known for its extreme conditions. Sitting around 430 metres (1,410 feet) below sea level and containing salinity of roughly 34%, it is nearly ten times saltier than the world's oceans and cannot support most forms of aquatic life.
