The warmest, most affectionate, the most salty, the most beautiful - this is it, the Red Sea, a favorite place for beach people, divers and just tourists. The depths of the Red Sea hide many unusual beauties, and each of the ancient countries surrounding it is shrouded in a halo of mystery.
Characteristic
The Red Sea on the map looks like a narrow slit between Africa and Eurasia. The length of the reservoir is 2350 km, and the width is only 350 km. The total area is 450 thousand km 2. Coordinates: 21 ° 08'45 ″ s. w. 38 ° 06'02 ″ c. e. Since the sea is surrounded by land from almost all sides, it belongs to the inland seas of the Indian Ocean. Most of the reservoir is located in the tropical zone. The Red Sea connects with the Indian Ocean through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait of the Arabian Sea. The artificially created Suez Canal allows ships to go from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea and further to the Indian Ocean without enveloping the entire African continent.
The maximum depth of the Red Sea is expressed by the number 2211 (although in some sources the numbers range from 2200 to 3020 m), the average depth is 490 m.
This is the sea of the Indian basin "young." He is only 25 million years old. It was formed due to the fracture of tectonic continental plates, which are now slowly but surely moving away from each other. The zone of the Red Sea and its shores is a seismically active region. In the slots, which are obtained as a result of the movement of the plates, magma immediately pours, which quickly solidifies. Studies show that the water temperature in the Red Sea reaches 62 ° C in some depressions. Another distinctive feature is manifested here: the greater the depth, the warmer the water, and not vice versa, as in all other seas.
The coastal line is not distinguished by special convolutions and deep bays, the coasts are almost parallel to each other. The bank near the coast does not exceed a depth of 200 m, then the bottom of the Red Sea forms a deep-sea basin - up to 1000 m. About the middle is the deepest part, where the maximum data are recorded.
Why is the Red Sea called Red?
There is no single definite version of the name of this tropical sea. One legend says that ancient peoples endowed the cardinal points with the names of colors: north - black, east - white, south - red. It turns out that the Red Sea is the southern sea.
Opponents of this version argue that Red is still the color of water, which gives the sea special brown algae during flowering.
There is another answer to the question of why the Red Sea is called the Red. The desert, spread along its shores, the ancient Egyptians called the Red Land. This color gives it the local sand with stones. At certain times, the display of the desert in the water makes it a delightfully coral color.
No one can assert with certainty the correctness of this or that interpretation, there are no documentary records about this. Is this really important? You can come up with something yourself. For example, red means beautiful and warm. After all, this is so. The Red Sea is the warmest of all terrestrial seas, the average annual temperature of its water is 22 o C.
Features of "red" water
Another application of the epithet "most" for the Red Sea. It is the most saline body of water of the World Ocean (after the Dead Sea). This situation, when the evaporation of water occurs much faster than its filling, leads to the fact that the salinity of the water in the Red Sea is approximately 4 times higher than the average worldwide and amounts to 41 g per liter of water. For comparison: the Black Sea contains 18 g in 1 liter, and the White - 5. An expedition to study the features of sea water found places where the Red Sea had a salt concentration of 200 g / l!
Another body of water is distinguished by the fact that not a single freshwater river from land replenishes its water. Usually, many different impurities fall into the seas along with mainland water. Deprived of such a privilege, the Red Sea remains the cleanest and most transparent.
Healing properties
The mere fact that a change of place and excitement from exotic beauties raise the mood and, accordingly, vitality, is an important reason for traveling to uncharted countries. In addition to a purely psychological discharge, the water of the Red Sea, like sea air, has a whole bunch of healing properties. The Dead Sea is famous for its very high concentration of salt, but it is precisely the “Dead Sea”, in contrast to it the Red Sea is “living”, but also very salty, as already mentioned. A high concentration of various salts has strong wound healing and antibacterial properties.
In addition to salts, the local sea water contains a number of minerals, the composition of which is able to cure some forms of female infertility. The saturation of water and air with bromine cures respiratory diseases, in combination with warm and dry air it can completely cure chronic rhinitis. The positive effect of the Red Sea is experienced by people suffering from diseases of the joints, spine, cardiovascular diseases, having problem skin. But vegetovascular dystonia from heat and dryness can give an exacerbation. This is not a contraindication, just sun and sea baths need to be alternated with relaxation in a cool place.
Underwater world
What else the countries of the Red Sea can boast of (Egypt, Sudan, Djibouti, Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Israel and Jordan) is that their sea is the most beautiful. More precisely, his underwater world. Unlike the Dead Sea, whose strong concentration of salt killed all living things, the life of Red boils and boils. If the terrestrial landscape around the coast is rather boring and monotonous, then the situation under the water is strikingly different with its bright colors and saturation. This is how to compare gray inconspicuous towns with a vibrant Brazilian festival.
"Fish soup" - so often called the underwater world of the Red Sea because of the many varieties of its inhabitants. Constantly warm temperatures, an abundance of food have led to the fact that 1200 fish species live here, 100 of which are not found anywhere else in the world. Tropical inhabitants of various sizes are dressed in bright "clothes", as if they understand that it is necessary to attract tourists. In fact, this is due to the fact that multi-colored bright coloration allows masking among the same bright and multi-colored corals. This whole palette of coral reefs and fish attracts scuba diving enthusiasts all year round.
Dolphins, killer whales, sharks and sea turtles also live in the southern sea.
Travel under water
The shores of the Red Sea attract crowds of tourists every year, the main entertainment of which is underwater excursions. After stories about the fantastic pictures of the fishing kingdom, even those who did not even think to plunge into the water seriously become divers here. However, you can observe the underwater world of the Red Sea in various ways:
- Diving - scuba diving with special equipment. In order to avoid unpleasant and dangerous situations for this entertainment you need to undergo special training and get a certificate. Resorts now practice diving for beginners with an instructor, under his supervision.
- Snorkeling is a shallow dive. All you need is a mask, flippers and snorkel. Transparent water allows you to observe the underwater fauna as much as you like.
- Bathyscaphe - if it’s absolutely scary or forbidden to dive into the depths of the sea, you can look at the beauty of their inhabitants through the glass bottom of a special pleasure boat.
Beauty is dangerous
The depth of the Red Sea is not only amazing, sometimes, if you do not follow basic rules, a walk can be dangerous. What unpleasant thing can you find here?
- Sharks. More common in places where the Red Sea washes the coast of Sudan. Near the popular Egyptian resorts rarely appear, but still the rules of behavior with them you need to know. First of all, it is recommended not to swim far, having unhealed bleeding wounds on the body: the blood shark smells through kilometers.
- Barracudas, moray eels hide in reefs. Mortally they are not dangerous, but they can seriously bite, taking a swimmer for fish.
- Poisonous inhabitants - sea snakes, warts, lionfish, sea urchins, stingrays, some types of jellyfish and starfish - emit toxic poisons for humans, some of which cause mild ailment, and some are deadly. Having received any injection under water, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Climate coast
The countries of the Red Sea are among the hottest on the planet, almost all of them are in a tropical desert climate. A slightly lighter Mediterranean climate in the north of the region.
- Temperature condition. The hottest period is July and August, daytime temperatures reach 38-43 ° C, and at maximum 50 ° C. The coldest period is winter with temperatures of 25-30 ° C during the day and at least 18 ° C at night.
- Wind. Winter temperatures, comfortable for Europeans, are spoiled by strong and prolonged winds. In the spring of fifty days in a row, a deserted hot hamsin can blow.
- Precipitation. Rare short showers bring the sea only 8 cm of rainfall per year, and the hot tropical sun evaporates 205 cm. The Red Sea level is maintained by the waters of the Indian Ocean.
Briefly about the countries
The Red Sea on the map looks like an ordinary large watershed between two continents. The main natural wealth of the countries along its shores is the desert and the sea, in some places - oil.
- Egypt, the capital is Cairo. The most popular destination for hiking trails and beach vacations. In addition to the Red Sea beauties, tourists are attracted by the ancient history of this country, its mysterious pyramids and sphinxes, the banks of the Nile and the exotic life of the Bedouins.
- Sudan, the capital is Khartoum. The Red Sea is the only marine "release" for this power. Sudan is a mediator between the Arab and African worlds, the main route of pilgrims from eastern Africa to religious shrines.
- Eritrea, the capital is Asmara. A small but very dry and hot piece of Danakil desert, which stretches a little more than a kilometer along the coastline, blocked access to the sea of large Ethiopia. The struggle for independence ended in victory, but economic problems have just begun and the tourism sector is the main line of replenishment of the budget.
- Israel, the capital is Jerusalem. An economically developed country in the Middle East with a rich history and cultural attractions. It has access to two seas - the Dead and the Red, on the banks of which are world-famous hospitals.
- Jordan, the capital is Amman. Arid and desert climate, very scarce water supplies, which are only slightly replenished from November to April, in the rainy season - this seems at first glance the small Asian country of Jordan. The Red Sea for this power, as well as for its other neighbors, is an excellent prospect to attract tourists and foreign capital, since its natural wealth is insignificant.
- Saudi Arabia, the capital is Riyadh. The rich oil queen of the Middle East, whose main wealth is the largest in the world. The convenient location in the center of the sea routes is used for oil transportation and other transportation. The problem was pollution of the coast with oil waste.
- Yemen, the capital is Sana'a. A small state in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula is washed by the Red and Arabian Seas. Such a place is very beneficial for trade routes. Yemen is a very poor country in the past, which sharply increased its oil production in the 90s of the last century and has since stubbornly moved along the path of growing wealth.
- Djibouti with the capital of the same name. This country has a desert, hot and dry climate. There are no permanent rivers. The vegetation is desert or semi-desert. The animal world is poor.
All countries on the Red Sea coast, both African and Asian, both rich and poor, have one thing in common - the availability of resorts and tourist places.
Red Sea Resorts
The most prestigious and fashionable resorts on the Red Sea are in Egypt. They are among the most popular. Developed infrastructure, service, a colorful coast make it possible to find places for a quiet family vacation, and for noisy youth. Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada, Taba, Dahab are just some of the many famous places. In addition to beach vacations, tourists love sea cruises, travels to shrines that are very close by.
A relatively new alternative to familiar and familiar resort places is the relatively new resort of El Gouna. It is called eastern Venice. The islands, on which the hotels and beautiful gardens are located, are created man-made and interconnected by elegant bridges. If you add to this the fact that the resort is located in a cozy bay, sheltered from the winds, it becomes clear what it attracted attention.
The only Israeli resort in the Red Sea Eilat is located far from pilgrimage places to shrines and, unlike the Dead Sea holiday destinations, has an entertaining direction. Here is a huge aquarium, which is a hall with glass walls in the middle of a coral reef. You can watch life under water without scuba gear.
Aqaba Bay of the Red Sea and the resort of the same name are chosen by divers. This place is also different in that the rest here is comfortable at any time of the year. Mountains along the coast protect the bay from strong winds, and the water temperature does not drop below 22 o.
The remaining powers on the coast, although they cannot compete with these resorts in terms of beach holidays, are happy to reveal their secrets to numerous tourists who are interested in the history, culture and life of this region.
The islands
The islands in the Red Sea are small in size, but unsurpassed in their beauty. Some of them are not even marked on maps; the nature of these places is sometimes wild and untouched by humans. Only four islands are constantly inhabited by the local population. The main occupation here is pearl mining. This fishing began in the days of the ancient Romans and continues to this day, and in the same way.
The largest archipelago is located near Eritrea, called Dahlak. The largest population lives on the island of Dahlak Kebir. On one of the islands called Nokra, in the 70s there was a naval base of the Soviet Union.
For those who like to contemplate the beauty that the depths of the Red Sea hide, an unforgettable experience leaves the island of Bryzers. These are big and small brothers, together with the neighboring small islands of Rocky and Zabargad, make up a unique underwater Marine Park. To explore the underwater depths without scuba gear, there are two submarines with a special transparent bottom and huge portholes.
Not far from Hurghada is another coral reserve on the island of Mahmeya.
