Ron Kean wrote:
>
> On Sun, 18 Jul 1999 21:31:54 -0700 "Technotranscendence"
> <neptune@mars.superlink.net> writes:
>
> I think, e.g., that the East African Rift Valley could be
> >turned>into an inland sea similar to the Mediterranean with a little
> work.
> >>In fact, it would seem, if my readings are correct, that just a tiny
> >amount>of excavation at it's northern extremity would start the process
> >whereby>waters from the Red Sea would flood a portion of the Rift
> Valley.
> >
>
> What would be the advantage of flooding the Rift Valley? I think there
> was a proposal involving the Dead Sea, which is about 1200 feet below sea
> level, whereby piping in water from the Mediterranean could be used to
> generate electricity. There may have been a similar proposal involving
> the Qattara Depression in Egypt.
The distance from the sea to the rift valley is only a few hundred yards, and some water is already seeping in through cracks in the rock, but its a rather toxic brew by the time it seeps through the volcanic rock...I agree that opeing it up would probably be the biggest economic windfall for the Ethiopian and Somali people.
Mike Lorrey