THE JORDAN VALLEY CANAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1642, 24 March 1884, Page 2

THE JORDAN VALLEY CANAL.

It has just been announced that the Sultan of Turkey has granted permission for the construction of the Jordan Valley canal. The proposal is to make a canal, 25 miles in length, from Haifa, in the Bay of Acre, through the plain of Asdraolon to the Valley of the River Jordan, This canal is to be 200 feet wide and 40 feet deep. This will bring the Mediterranean into the heart of Palestine, In order that the waters of the Dead Sea may be made to mingle with those of the Red Sea, it is proposed to cut a canal 20 miles in length from the head of the Gulf of Akabah to the Dead Sea. If these things were successfully performed, it is expected that an inland sea about 200 miles long, varying in width from three to ten miles, and deep enough to float vessels of the largest size, would extend from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea. Referring to the objections which may be made on the grounds of the sacred associations, of Palestine, a writer says:—" It is possible that the new enterprise may be proved, to the satisfaction of many devout, men and women, to he the fulfilment of the prophecy of Ezekiel to the effect that there is to bo a broad sea in the desert, and that' the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto En-eglaim.'"