The lake pact: Lake Michigan becomes sister lake to the Kinneret
Israel's National Infrastructures Minister Dr. Uzi Landau and state of Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a “Sister Lakes” relationship between Israel’s Lake Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee) and Lake Michigan.
The latter entity borders the state of Illinois and is the fresh water source for Chicago and its surroundings. Lake Michigan is 350 times the size of the Sea of Galilee.
The MOU intends to foster an educational exchange for research toward maintaining the two very critical bodies of water.
The agreement references joint concerns regarding water purification, invasive fish species, and other issues such as curbing algal proliferation and keeping water levels high – all of which are crucial to supplying ample water to the respective populations.
Illinois has already formed such collaborations for Sister Lakes (and Rivers) with Poland, Korea, Ireland and Japan, and will soon be establishing one in China.
