The Red Sea

The Red Sea is an arm of the Indian Ocean. Surrounding it are the continents of

Africa and Asia. It separates the Arabian Peninsula in Asia from the western Egypt,

northwestern Sudan, and northern Ethiopia: all of which in Africa. The Red Sea is about

1,400 miles long and around 220 miles wide. It's average depth is around 2,000feet deep.

The sea alone is a little bit larger than California.

The sea is very dangerous when it comes to navigation, for large reefs inhabit the

waters. The only place for considerate navigation is a small 20 mile wide channel in the

southern half of the sea. This then comes surprising to say for the Red Sea is one of the

busiest trade routes in the world. This made possible by dredging and blasting of the coral

reefs.

The sea's name was brought on one of two suspected ways. One being that the

water is usually a very bluish-green, but because red algae is present the water often times

looks a copper like color. Another reasoning is the sea was named after it's coastal

mountains which contain many mineral deposits and consist of a reddish tone.

Some problems the locals and the Red Sea face are that the Red Sea waters are

among the saltiest in the world, this mixed with high temperature result in high salt

concentrations on the water's surface. People have to live with the salt, but to get a little

use out of it they often times collect the water and then collect the salt from that for use

in local stores and businesses.

Navigation is often a problem. The trade routes are often times busily crowded and

only one or two routes are available. Affecting the navigation is that coral reefs block many

ways, irregular currents can push a small vessel off track, and strong winds and sandstorms

also make it difficult for even some very large vessels. Solutions for this haven't taken

much impact. Dredging and blasting are what keep one canal open. Another alternative

is to find different means of transportation. Flying has proven somewhat affective for

transportation but not for trade. Caravans were used in biblical times and in the past but

would take too long in this day in age.

The earlier solution that was taken of blasting and dredging of the reefs then brings

up another problem. Destruction of coral reefs. This process does some good and some

bad. Good for it helps with the trade routes, but does bad for destroying the reefs. The

solution that was actually used was to fight the dredgers. This brought on to the ability for

them to only blast and dredge the areas or high boat and vessel concentration.

Fishing isn't too much a problem, but the sea doesn't provide a great number of

each kind of fish to make commercial fishing profitable. This problem isn't too bad for it

is backed up with an equal economical solution. Due to the variety of fish scuba diving

makes for great recreation and for business for some as guides and researchers.

There is a great variety of sea animal life within the sea. Dolphins and sea turtles

are among the animals in a adequate majority. The most sea life though is the fish. With

more than four hundred species. This makes scuba diving a must see and do for Red Sea

tourists and residents.

The climate of the area is monsoon like but without all of the rain. The area is a dry

region, but because of it's type of climate is very humid. The temperature stays fairly high

year round. It stays around 70 degrees Fahrenheit on average and the water around

65 degrees Fahrenheit. In the summer the temperature averages 90 degrees

fahrenheit and the water is very warm at an average of 80 degrees fahrenheit. The

winter though is when the little bit of rain they get occurs. The winter is also the time for

the best visibility under the water for scuba divers because the cool water is usually unable

to support algae and plankton life.

You may have heard about the sea in a famous story from the Bible. The waters of

the sea were parted. The Israelites then escaped to Egypt. Even at this time the Red Sea,

along with the Mediterranean Sea, were important trade routes. Camel and donkey

transported goods between the two at this time and continued to before the Suez Canal

opened in 1869 to connect the two.

Recreational activities attracts many tourist to the sea. Scuba diving is the most pop-

ular attraction, for the sea has over 400 different species of fish. Wind-surfing is a popular

activity among the local residents. Many businesses offer many water sports including banana

boating, jet skiing, water skiing, and parasailing. Fishing is also a recreational activity, but isn't

profitable enough to become commercial.

Sources used were Compton's Encyclopedia on the computer, World Book on

computer, School encyclopedias, and Internet. The internet sites were www.red-sea.com

and its.idx.gov.ed/tourism/docs/red_sea/redsea.htm.