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The Red Sea, one of the worlds richest
stretches of water is surrounded by desert. It is said to have been formed by a great rift
that in Biblical times separated two great continents; Africa and Asia. The rift forks in
the north forming the Gulf of Suez to the west and the Gulf of Aqaba to the east. At its
most northerly point forms the Sinai Peninsula and stretches over 1000 miles south to join
the Indian Ocean, between Ethiopia and Yemen. In the north and west are desert plains,
while in the south a large mountainous region.
The Red Sea was created by the movement of plates in the Earth’s surface about 30
million years ago. It holds beneath its crystal blue surface an oasis of living creatures,
reefs, and coral formation. Water temperature in the Red Sea remain unusually constant
year round, averaging 72° F in the summer.
Being less than a 5 hour flight from most European
cities, the Red Sea, is now a popular destination offering desert, beach and diving
vacations. The Egyptian Red Sea can be visited through 2 main destinations:
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Sharm el Sheikh (access point to the whole Sinai Peninsula, including
Taba, Nuweiba, Dahab, Nabq Park, Tiran Island diving areas, Ras Mohamed National Park and
Straits of Gobal diving areas)
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Hurghada (access point to destinations on the Red Sea’s west coast, including
Safaga).
Both Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada have international airports which are served by a number
of domestic and international flights each week. |
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