Researchers Discover Unique Salt Chimneys in the Dead Sea

These structures, formed from ancient salt layers, may predict dangerous sinkholes around the shrinking sea.

Scientists from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research found towering salt chimneys on the Dead Sea floor, some reaching over seven meters high.
The chimneys, composed of halite crystals, form when extremely saline groundwater interacts with the Dead Sea's saltwater.
The Dead Sea has been losing about one meter of water per year for over 50 years due to reduced inflows and high evaporation rates.
These salt chimneys could serve as early warning indicators for sinkholes, which pose significant risks to surrounding communities.
Mapping these chimneys with autonomous vehicles could help identify regions at risk of future collapses.