RED SEA, EGYPT

Red Sea beautiful Coast line with the mountains in the background

EGYPT RED SEA ~ HISTORY

The Red Sea, off the coast of Egypt, is one of the most beautiful places in the world to go diving. The waters of the Red Sea are renowned for their spectacular visibility and features some of the most exotic seascapes. With its wide expanse of coral formation on the reefs, it is home to thousands of different sea creatures. Red Sea beach resorts are located on both sides of the sea, on the east side and part of the Sinai peninsula is the long established Sharm el Sheikh and its neo-hippy counterpart, Dahab. On the west coast of the Red Sea lies relatively old and touristy Hurghada and a cluster of new resort towns.

• Home to over 1,100 species of fish
• Approximately 1 in 10 are exclusive to the area
• The reef extends over 1,200 miles

Best way to see the Red See Reef:

• The best way to see and experience the Red Sea Reef is through snorkelling and diving adventures. Egypt is the most popular access point for the reef, buy access is available through neighbouring African countries as well as Israel and Jordan across the sea.
• Reef systems are fragile and require care and protection. Although snorkelling and diving are the best ways to encounter the life of the reef, they are also one of the leading threats to the reef and the life that calls her home. It s imperative that visitors take all precautions to experience the reef responsibly.

The most saline sea in the world

• The average salinity of the world’s oceans and seas are about 35%; compared to this, the average salinity of the Red Sea is about 40%. The Red Sea is one of the most saline water bodies in the world. There are several factors that contribute to the salinity of the Red Sea. Highevaporation rate, little precipitation, absence of a fresh water system that drains into the sea and the lack of connectivity with the Indian Ocean are some of the factors that contribute to the high salinity of the Red Sea. 

Water currents of the Red Sea

• Not much is known about the currents of the Red Sea due to lack of data. The water currents of the Red Sea are amazingly weak compared to that of other seas. The deciding factor for the currents in the Red Sea is wind. The overall direction of the Red Sea current is towards North, though it is most of the time unpredictable.

Climate of the Red Sea

• Northeasterly monsoon and Southwesterly monsoon describe the climate of the Red Sea. The monsoonal winds are created due to the difference in temperature between the sea and the land surrounding the Red Sea. Due to its high surface temperature, the Red Sea is considered to be one of the hottest seas of the world. The heat is aggravated by the minimal rainfall to the Red Sea. Even though this is the case, the coral life and other marine organisms survive in this environment.

Marine life of the Red Sea

• With approximately 1200 species of fish and some of the varieties of shark that visit, the Red Sea is a very rich and diverse ecosystem. Among the fish found in the Red Sea, 10% of these fishes are unique to the Red Sea. Fringing coral reefs that have aged 5000 to 7000 years are found along the coastline of the Red Sea. These reefs provide shelter to much of the marine life of Red Sea, and contribute to the beauty of the Red Sea.

Some birds are using Egypt and the Red Sea for navigating in their migrating pattern, like Storks and Flamingos.

 

In March and September you can see thousands of storks (left) in the sky in a long line from horizon to horizon. They are using the up-going winds over the desert to save energy. It's an impressive site.

zerr00.....(@~@)