9 Interesting Gulf of Aqaba Facts

The Gulf of Aqaba, or the Gulf of Eilat, is a gulf within the Red Sea. It lies east of the Sinai Peninsula and west of the Arabian Peninsula. Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Israel have coastlines on the Gulf of Aqaba, which capabilities as a hyperlink between the continents of Africa and Asia. The world’s northernmost coral reef lies near the shore of Eilat, Israel’s southernmost metropolis.

A Brief Background

Before the 1994 Peace Accords between Israel and Jordan, the Gulf of Aqaba area witnessed little to no growth attributable to violence and regional conflicts. Also, data in regards to the Gulf’s bodily traits, marine options, ecosystem and many others was restricted. It was within the 2000s that the area started to witness some modifications and development.

From that point onwards, great business and industrial growth has occurred, which has adversely impacted the Gulf of Aqaba’s marine atmosphere. However, given the Gulf’s strategic significance, these considerations have led to cooperation amongst all of the border nations. They work collectively to guard its shoreline and marine assets since it’s a main tourism vacation spot and generates vital income.

The Gulf of Aqaba is known for water sports activities, and one can spot divers, surfers, and many others, on the coast in virtually all seasons. It is called one of many best diving places on this planet, given its coral reefs, unintentional shipwrecks, and different vessels intentionally sunk right here to supply a habitat for marine life and increase the native tourism sector.

1. Geography of the Gulf of Aqaba

The Sinai Peninsula bifurcates the northern Red Sea into two main gulfs, the Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of Suez. The Gulf of Aqaba is 110 miles or 177 km lengthy and 12 to 17 miles or 19 to 27 km large. It covers an space of 239 sq. kilometres and has a most depth of 1850 m.

The Gulf of Aqaba is part of the Great Rift Valley, which runs north to south for 6400 km from the northern a part of Syria to central Mozambique in East Africa. It was fashioned by seismic actions alongside the Afro-Syrian rift. It is a deep and slender water physique, which, in keeping with astronauts, is probably the most vital geographical characteristic on Earth to be seen from house.

2. Three main cities lie on the Gulf of Aqaba Coast

The Gulf of Aqaba spans north from the Tiran Straits to some extent the place the Israeli border meets the borders of Jordan and Egypt. At the Gulf’s northern finish lie three main cities, Eilat in Israel, Taba in Egypt and Aqaba in Jordon.

Eilat was established in 1951, although archaeological proof suggests it was inhabited even in 8000 B.C.E. The metropolis can also be talked about many instances within the Bible, and within the Roman period, a highway was constructed to hyperlink the area with Petra.
These cities have business ports and widespread resorts for vacationers who go to right here to benefit from the nice climate and the nice and cozy waters. To the south, Haql is the largest Saudi Arabian metropolis on the Aqaba Gulf. On Sinai, Dahab and Sharm el-Sheikh are main centres. The Gulf has different distinctive options, like its coral reef ecosystem, one of the numerous on this planet.

3. Jordan’s solely seaport lies on the Gulf of Aqaba

Al Aqabah, or the Port of Aqaba, is a city in excessive southwestern Jordan. It lies on the Gulf of Aqaba and is the one seaport in Jordon. Due to the freshwater springs close by, the port has been settled for hundreds of years. Aqaba has been inhabited since 4000 B.C.E. attributable to its location on the confluence of buying and selling routes between Asia, Africa and Europe. Close to the port lie King Solomon’s Port and the foundry of Ezion-Geber.

The metropolis was known as Ayla by the Arabs and was developed because it was a commerce route within the ninth century AD. In the Roman period, it was the southern terminus of a commerce route main from Syria. Under the Byzantine Empire, it was the seat of a Bishopric. Later, it got here underneath the management of Muslims and have become a route they took for making a pilgrimage to Mecca. It declined underneath the rule of the Ottoman Empire, and within the twentieth century, it was only a small village. After the Suez Canal opened and the Hejaz Railway was accomplished, pilgrim site visitors declined.

The Al Aqabah harbour underwent some enhancements by the British within the Second World War. It was modernised after Jordan gained independence. Deepwater services within the port opened in 1961. Today, it’s widespread as a diving and seaside resort. Industrial actions stay vital, and the city is a significant exporter of bulk phosphates and shells and imports manufactured items. It can also be an vital administrative centre.

4. Environmental points threatening the Gulf of Aqaba

The Gulf of Aqaba is a semi-enclosed water physique. Its form and different options have led to its distinctive organic variety, which incorporates plentiful fish and coral reefs. Substantial growth has occurred prior to now few years, affecting the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea. Marine air pollution and ecosystem degradation stay the first considerations.

Till the Nineteen Sixties, the shoreline of the Gulf of Aqaba was not densely populated. However, after the Peace Accords have been signed, a business harbour got here up, together with boat marinas, a naval base, a dolphinarium, a analysis laboratory, an underwater observatory, inns, eating places and different associated infrastructure, which weighs down on its fragile marine atmosphere.

The situation might worsen if not checked now. Thermal industrial air pollution, sewage discharge, oil spills, and phosphate deposition from transport operations have eroded corals, particularly within the Gulf’s extremely developed northern elements. Badly managed resort growth and overfishing are different main points.

5. A well-known vacationer vacation spot

The Gulf of Aqaba shoreline is without doubt one of the best within the Red Sea, with sandy seashores and coral reefs. Here, you possibly can go crusing, snorkelling, diving, and even fishing on glass-bottomed vessels the place you possibly can see the marine life swimming beneath you.

One also can go to the Bird Observatory, the Archaeological Museum, the Mamluk Fort and the Marine Science Center.

However, the principle points of interest within the gulf are triggerfish, fish parrots, fish clowns, pipefish, sea anemones and whale sharks.

6. Aqaba Marine Reserve is a web site of nice scientific curiosity

The Aqaba Marine Reserve has 157 species of reef-building corals and 120 species of sentimental corals. It additionally has 500 fish species and 1000 species of molluscs. The area is of nice scientific curiosity because the habitat of endangered species like dugongs and marine turtles.

The marine habitat within the Gulf of Aqaba is sort of numerous, with rocky shores, fore reefs, reef faces, sandy bottoms and shores, and seagrass meadows. The Gulf drops off steeply to a depth of round 900 m. Coral reefs are restricted to a skinny band, lower than 300 m broad, alongside the rocky shorelines.

Coral reef methods within the Gulf of Aqaba cowl an space of round 4 sq. kilometres, of which only one sq. kilometre lies inside the Aqaba Marine Reserve. Jordanian coral reefs are in higher situation, with round ninety per cent lined in a couple of localised areas. However, ocean situations wanted to assist these numerous and local weather change-resilient corals are uncommon. Their location close to the shores makes them vulnerable to break from human actions.

Some well-preserved relic coral reefs are discovered alongside the reserve’s southern shores, and preserving these distinctive pure options is important to defending Jordon’s heritage.

7. A serious commerce route since historic instances

The Gulf of Aqaba lies on a significant commerce route that has been used for ages. Trade throughout the Red Sea between Port of Elim and Elat on the head of the Aqaba Gulf is recorded within the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt.

Expeditions crossed the Red Sea to achieve Punt, a reality talked about in Egypt’s fifth, sixth, eleventh, twelfth and 18th dynasties. Hatshepsut constructed a fleet to broaden commerce and visited Punt on a 6-month lengthy voyage.

Thebes used gold from the conquests south into Kush to purchase myrrh, natron, juniper oil, frankincense, bitumen and copper amulets for mummification at Karnak. Egyptian settlements close to Timna close to the Aqaba Gulf date again to the Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt.

At the northern finish lay the traditional metropolis of Ayla, the present-day Aqaba. It was an vital metropolis then, identical to it’s at this time. It served as a business centre for Nabateans.

Aqaba was a principal Ottoman port linked to Damascus and Medina by way of the Hejaz Railway. In the First World War, the Battle of Aqaba was a significant battle which ended the 500-year-long Ottoman rule over Greater Syria.

8. Several Ports lie on the Gulf of Aqaba

Aqaba Port, Jordan’s solely entry to the ocean, lies on a 40 km shoreline between Israel and Saudi Arabia. It has 12 terminals, together with the Aqaba Main Terminal, the Aqaba Container Terminal, and the Industrial Terminal. The port handles bagged cargo, rice, paper, phosphate, cement, basic cargo, timber, livestock, reefer cargo, grains, cargo and oil.

Nuweibah is one other facility on the western coast of the Gulf of Aqaba. It is utilized by ships of the Egyptian Navigation Company and Jordanian National Shipping Line as a passenger and ferry port to Aqaba. Other ships should receive permission from the Egyptian authorities. Major imports are iron ore and apples, and exports comprise furnishings, ceramics, iron and greens. The port can deal with 1,900,000 tonnes of cargo and 1,000,000 passengers yearly.

The Port of Eilat is located on the head of the Gulf of Aqaba within the Red Sea. It can deal with numerous cargo and affords vessel restore companies.

It has a crude oil jetty operated by EAPC. A pipeline carrying crude oil from the port connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean. Major exports embrace phosphates, potash, minerals and ores. Imports comprise constructing supplies, foodstuffs, automobiles and timber. Around 2,100,000 tonnes of dry cargo, 70,000 vehicles and 50,000 TEUs are dealt with yearly.

9. Climate of the Gulf of Aqaba

The Gulf of Aqaba has a sizzling, dry local weather typical of desert areas, with excessive temperatures and low rainfall. Summers final from June to September and are fairly sizzling, with temperatures reaching over 35 levels Celsius. Heatwaves with temperatures over 40 levels Celsius are frequent within the area.

Winters final from December to February and are fairly heat and sunny. Freezing and frost are fairly uncommon. The temperature ranges from 20 to 25 levels Celsius. Rainfall is much less, round 50 mm yearly, and most falls between November and March. Due to dry situations, humidity is low to reasonable.

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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 modifying abilities. Author of a number of educational papers, she has additionally labored as a contract author, producing many technical, inventive and advertising items. A real aesthete at coronary heart, she loves books a little bit greater than the rest.

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