15 Important Red Sea Facts You Must Know

Situated between the African and Asian Continents, the Red Sea is a crucial water physique from the attitude of worldwide commerce, tourism, and the wealthy and numerous marine life it helps.

The Red Sea is an inlet of the Indian Ocean and is related to it through the Bal el Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden from the south. The Sinai Peninsula, Aqaba Gulf and the Gulf of Suez deceive its north. The area has many essential ports and harbours that deal with the vast majority of the world’s cargo, together with mesmerising seashores that entice individuals from far and huge.

Not solely is the Red Sea stunning, however its waters are stated to own well being advantages, too. Read alongside to study extra such fascinating information concerning the Red Sea.

World’s northernmost tropical sea spanning 438,000 km2, a Global 200 ecoregion

With a floor space of roughly 438,000 sq. kilometres or 169,000 sq. miles, the Red Sea is 2250 km or 1400 miles lengthy and 355 km broad at its widest level. Its common depth is 490 m, and it attains a most depth of 3040 m within the central Suakin Trough.

Forty Percent of the ocean is lower than 100 metres deep, and these shallow waters have underwater cabinets that maintain life within the type of vibrant corals and small fish.

Different theories relating to its naming

There are many theories stating why the Red Sea was named so. One idea is that the seasonal blooms of aquatic micro organism Trichodesmium erythrasma near the floor of the water flip the ocean pink for a while.

Scholars argue that the title pink refers back to the south course, just like the Black Sea’s title, which could seek advice from the northern course. Modern students say this as in some Asiatic languages, and color was used to seek advice from the instructions and proof of this has additionally been discovered by historians. For occasion, Herodotus as soon as used ‘Red Sea’ and ‘Southern Sea’ interchangeably.

Some additionally argue that the Red Sea was named so as a consequence of a red-mountain vary known as the Harei Edom, which lies close to it.

In the distant previous, the Red Sea was often known as Mare Mecca or the Sea of Mecca and Sinus Arabicus or the Gulf of Arabia as a consequence of its proximity to Arabia.

The Red Sea finds point out within the Holy Books, the Quran and the Bible

Many locations on this planet are talked about in spiritual books, and the Red Sea is certainly one of them. It is talked about each within the Quran and the Bible.

According to the story within the Bible, the Israelites had been being adopted by Egyptians and had been blocked by them after they reached the Red Sea. However, God parted this Sea so the previous might cross it and attain safely to land.

Ancient Egyptians had been the primary to discover the Red Sea

Attempting to ascertain commerce routes to Punt, historical Egyptians despatched voyages to discover the Red Sea. In 2500 and 1500 BC, two such voyages had been despatched by Hatshepsut, the Royal Wife of Pharaoh Thutmose II.

Darius the Great, ruler of Persia’s Achaemenid Empire within the sixth century BC, took many steps to discover and enhance navigation on this sea. He despatched individuals to seek out and file obstructions like stones, and so on, within the sea and even constructed a canal on it, which is now known as the traditional Suez Canal.

Expeditions had been additionally despatched by Alexander the Great within the 4th century BC. Periplus of Erthythraen Sea, or Periplus of the Red Sea, is a crucial historic account written by an unknown author. It offers detailed details about the ports and the ocean routes across the Red Sea.

An important commerce route since instances immemorial

It has at all times remained an important commerce route in several historic ages. It was favoured for Roman Trade with the Indian Subcontinent starting with Augustus’s reign when the Roman Empire strengthened its grip over the Mediterranean, northern areas across the Red Sea and Egypt. Also, contact between Rome and China was depending on this water physique. It was additionally recognized for the slave commerce from Africa.

In the Middle Ages, it was a part of the spice commerce route, and Muslim pilgrims handed by it to go to Mecca. During the Middle Ages, it was an essential a part of the spice commerce route.

After the Suez Canal opened in 1869, going by Egypt to attach the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea, maritime transport between Europe and Asia turned simpler than earlier than. Today, there are numerous ports alongside the Red Sea coast, such because the Port of Suez, Jeddah Port, Safaga Port, and so on.

The world’s quickest fish is discovered within the Red Sea

The reefs of the southern Red Sea are house to among the most original marine species. In reality, round 20% of fish discovered right here usually are not discovered wherever else on this planet.

However, that isn’t all. The world’s quickest fish, the sailfish, additionally inhabits the Red Sea waters. Sailfish are about 1 m lengthy and may attain a velocity of round 68 mph, whereas people can solely attain 3 to six mph.

Sailfish are recognized not just for their lightning velocity but additionally for his or her peculiar appears or distinctive look. Near the snout, they’ve an extended and rounded spear, which distinguishes them from the remainder of the fish species.

One of the saltiest water our bodies on earth, which makes you float

Due to the excessive evaporation charge and low precipitation, the Red Sea has excessive salinity ranges. Also, no main rivers or streams circulation into the ocean, and its connection to the Gulf of Aden can also be slim.

In the southern half, its salinity ranges from between ~36 ‰, and it’s 40% within the northern half close to the Gulf of Suez. Hence, individuals can float on the floor of the Red Sea since salty water is heavier, and so a relatively light-weight physique or a human can float on its floor simply.

Also, the Red Sea has many well being advantages. Its saline focus improves blood circulation. The sandy seashores alongside its coast have minerals and black sand which are stated to deal with arthritis, rheumatism and pores and skin issues.

Rich in mineral assets

The Red Sea is plentiful with completely different marine plant and animal species. However, it’s also recognized for its mineral deposits, the commonest of that are evaporite, petroleum deposits, sulphur, and phosphates.

Oil and pure fuel reserves are additionally current within the Red Sea.

The Red Sea is sort of tough to navigate due to lesser pure harbours and intensive coral reefs, to not neglect the numerous shipwrecks discovered on this physique of water.

1200 species of fish and intensive coral reefs are discovered within the Red Sea

The Red Sea is house to 1200 fish species, round 10 per cent of which aren’t discovered wherever else on this planet. This additionally contains 42 species of deepwater fish.

These fish thrive on the 2000 kilometres lengthy coral reefs that sit alongside the shore. These are usually fringing reefs, that are 5000 to 7000 years previous and are largely fashioned of Acropora and porite corals.

These reefs create platforms and lagoons alongside the Red Sea coast and sometimes different traits like cylinders, just like the Blue Hore at Dahab.

The coastal reefs are frequented by pelagic species like among the 44 shark species. The Red Sea has numerous marine habitats starting from grass beds, mangroves, salt pans and salt marshes. There are additionally 157 nudibranch species within the Red Sea, lots of that are solely discovered right here and nowhere else on the planet.

Heaven for scuba divers and snorkellers

You can dive or snorkel the waters of the Red Sea at quite a few locations. The greatest spots are Marsa Alam, Safaga, El Quseir, Makadi Bay and Dahab in Egypt. It is exclusive with its numerous.

The Red Sea has a number of offshore reefs and atolls, most of that are uncommon formations that defy Darwinian coral reef classifications and are attributed to excessive tectonic actions that characterise the area.

The Egyptian Government recognised the biodiversity of the Red Sea and established the Ras Mohammed National Park, which has among the greatest scuba diving websites.

One of the favored diving and snorkelling spots within the Red Sea is Sharm El Sheikh, on the southern finish of the Sinai Peninsula, which is thought for luxurious resorts alongside Naama Bay. Marsa Alam in Egypt is known for its pristine seashores, the award-winning Concorde Moreen Beach Resort & Spa, and the Red Sea The Palace, which gives entry to stunning coral reefs and plentiful marine biodiversity.

Hurghada offers top-of-the-line snorkelling alternatives only a quick distance from the shoreline. One can see coral gardens and vibrant fish on the reefs close to the El Gouna resort city. Dahab is an enthralling city on the coast of Egypt and is in style for the long-lasting dive website, the Blue Hole, which is a pure sinkhole; the lighthouse reef, which is shallow and simply accessible; the Napolean Reef, Gabr el Bint, the place one can spot angelfish, pufferfish and turtles.

Visit Eel Garden, named after a number of backyard eels that populate the sandy seabed, to look at these fascinating creatures. The Canyon and Blue Lagoon is thought for its gorgeous underwater rock formations and corals.

Also, the brine swimming pools are studied and researched relating to their microbial life. They are characterised by their variety and their adaptation to excessive environmental situations.

There are 18 desalination crops alongside the Red Sea

Demand for desalinated water is rising, particularly to fulfill the necessities of the growing inhabitants and the industries and factories within the area.

Hence, round 18 desalination crops function alongside the coast of the Red Sea that discharge heat brine, chlorine, and and-sealants which are dangerous to corals since they bleach and kill them and trigger ailments in fish.

This is a critical reason behind concern as it’d pose a critical menace to the biodiversity of the Red Sea and likewise influence the Red Sea fishing trade.

The Red Sea has 521 islands

There are 521 islands within the Red Sea; of those, the Red Sea governorate has greater than 39 islands. Some of them are Abu Minqar, Sahi Hasheesh, Qaysum and Umm al-Kayan.

In 2016, possession of two islands named Tiran and Sanafir was transferred from Egypt to Saudi Arabia.

Interestingly, not all Red Sea Islands are centuries previous. In reality, some had been created lately as a consequence of volcanic eruptions, such because the islands of Sholan and Jadid, which had been carved out in 2001 and 2013 within the Zubair Archipelago near Yemen.

The Red Sea was fashioned after a continental drift

In the Eocene Period, Arabia and Africa started to float away, and the method continued at a mounted tempo within the Oligocene interval.

The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden had been created because the Arabian plate separated from Nubia, and new oceans had been fashioned alongside the Red Sea and Aden Gulf. Red Sea is alleged to be comparatively younger, simply 6 to eight million years previous.

Many shipwrecks lie within the Red Sea

Red Sea has many historic shipwreck websites, such because the SS Thistlegorm and SS Carnatic.

The former was a British service provider navy vessel in the course of the Second World War. It was bombed by Germans and sank. Its shipwreck is discovered at a depth of 30 m or 100 ft. The latter was a British Steamship that carried passengers and cargo. It sank in 1869 after hitting a coral reef alongside the Red Sea.

Other in style shipwrecks are these of Umbria, Dunraven and Giannis D, to call a number of. All these are in style amongst scuba divers.

The Red Sea is heat most instances of the 12 months

The Red Sea lies close to the Tropic of Cancer and stays heat. The common temperature right here is about 18 Degrees Celsius, even within the winter months of December and January.

During summer time, the temperature simply reaches 28 Degrees Celsius. Hence, if you’re planning to go to the Red Sea, you don’t have to fret for the reason that waters stay calm and nice all year long.

Conclusion

The Red Sea is a exceptional water physique that’s recognized for its wealthy marine life. It can also be a tourism hotspot, visited by diving lovers together with beachgoers desirous to get pleasure from peace and tranquillity. Its gorgeous landscapes depart guests in awe of its magnificence and magnificence. It can also be an important commerce sea route, and 1000’s of ships move by it yearly, which accords it a strategic place.

The stunning coral reefs, seashore resorts, heat and crystal clear waters with majestic creatures and historic locations alongside the shores are among the issues that entice one to the Red Sea.

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Disclaimer: The authors’ views expressed on this article don’t essentially replicate the views of Marine-Salvage. Data and charts, if used within the article, have been sourced from out there info and haven’t been authenticated by any statutory authority. The writer and Marine-Salvage don’t declare it to be correct nor settle for any accountability for a similar. The views represent solely the opinions and don’t represent any pointers or suggestions on any plan of action to be adopted by the reader.

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About Author

Zahra is an alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is an avid author, possessing immaculate analysis and enhancing abilities. Author of a number of educational papers, she has additionally labored as a contract author, producing many technical, artistic and advertising and marketing items. A real aesthete at coronary heart, she loves books a bit greater than anything.

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