15 Important Red Sea Facts You Must Know

Situated between the African and Asian Continents, the Red Sea is an important water body from the perspective of international trade, tourism, and the rich and diverse marine life it supports.

The Red Sea is an inlet of the Indian Ocean and is connected to it via the Bal el Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden from the south. The Sinai Peninsula, Aqaba Gulf and the Gulf of Suez lie to its north. The region has many important ports and harbours that handle the majority of the world’s cargo, along with mesmerising beaches that attract people from far and wide.

red sea

Not only is the Red Sea beautiful, but its waters are said to possess health benefits, too. Read along to learn more such interesting facts about the Red Sea.

Table of Contents

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

With a surface area of approximately 438,000 square kilometres or 169,000 square miles, the Red Sea is 2250 km or 1400 miles long and 355 km broad at its widest point. Its average depth is 490 m, and it attains a maximum depth of 3040 m in the central Suakin Trough.

Forty Percent of the sea is less than 100 metres deep, and these shallow waters have underwater shelves that sustain life in the form of colourful corals and small fish.

Different theories regarding its naming

There are many theories stating why the Red Sea was named so. One theory is that the seasonal blooms of aquatic bacteria Trichodesmium erythrasma close to the surface of the water turn the sea red for some time.

Scholars argue that the name red refers to the south direction, similar to the Black Sea’s name, which might refer to the northern direction. Modern scholars say this as in some Asiatic languages, and colour was used to refer to the directions and evidence of this has also been found by historians. For instance, Herodotus once used ‘Red Sea’ and ‘Southern Sea’ interchangeably.

Some also argue that the Red Sea was named so due to a red-mountain range called the Harei Edom, which lies near it.

In the distant past, the Red Sea was also known as Mare Mecca or the Sea of Mecca and Sinus Arabicus or the Gulf of Arabia due to its proximity to Arabia.

The Red Sea finds mention in the Holy Books, the Quran and the Bible

Many places in the world are mentioned in religious books, and the Red Sea is one of them. It is mentioned both in the Quran and the Bible.

According to the story in the Bible, the Israelites were being followed by Egyptians and were blocked by them when they reached the Red Sea. However, God parted this Sea so the former could cross it and reach safely to land.

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Ancient Egyptians were the first to explore the Red Sea

Attempting to establish trade routes to Punt, ancient Egyptians sent voyages to explore the Red Sea. In 2500 and 1500 BC, two such voyages were sent by Hatshepsut, the Royal Wife of Pharaoh Thutmose II.

Darius the Great, ruler of Persia’s Achaemenid Empire in the 6th century BC, took many steps to explore and improve navigation in this sea. He sent people to find and record obstructions like stones, etc, in the sea and even constructed a canal on it, which is now referred to as the ancient Suez Canal.

Expeditions were also sent by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC. Periplus of Erthythraen Sea, or Periplus of the Red Sea, is an important historical account written by an unknown writer. It gives detailed information about the ports and the sea routes around the Red Sea.

A vital trade route since times immemorial

It has always remained a vital trade route in different historical ages. It was favoured for Roman Trade with the Indian Subcontinent beginning with Augustus’s reign when the Roman Empire strengthened its grip over the Mediterranean, northern areas around the Red Sea and Egypt. Also, contact between Rome and China was dependent on this water body. It was also known for the slave trade from Africa.

In the Middle Ages, it was part of the spice trade route, and Muslim pilgrims passed through it to go to Mecca. During the Middle Ages, it was an important part of the spice trade route.

After the Suez Canal opened in 1869, going through Egypt to connect the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea, maritime transport between Europe and Asia became easier than before. Today, there are many ports along the Red Sea coast, such as the Port of Suez, Jeddah Port, Safaga Port, etc.

The world’s fastest fish is found in the Red Sea

The reefs of the southern Red Sea are home to some of the most unique marine species. In fact, around 20% of fish found here are not found anywhere else in the world.

However, that is not all. The world’s fastest fish, the sailfish, also inhabits the Red Sea waters. Sailfish are about 1 m long and can attain a speed of around 68 mph, while humans can only reach 3 to 6 mph.

Sailfish are known not only for their lightning speed but also for their peculiar looks or unique appearance. Near the snout, they have a long and rounded spear, which distinguishes them from the rest of the fish species.

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

Due to the high evaporation rate and low precipitation, the Red Sea has high salinity levels. Also, no major rivers or streams flow into the sea, and its connection to the Gulf of Aden is also narrow.

In the southern part, its salinity ranges from between ~36 ‰, and it is 40% in the northern part near the Gulf of Suez. Hence, people can float on the surface of the Red Sea since salty water is heavier, and so a comparatively lightweight body or a human can float on its surface easily.

Also, the Red Sea has many health benefits. Its saline concentration improves blood circulation. The sandy beaches along its coast have minerals and black sand that are said to treat arthritis, rheumatism and skin problems.

Rich in mineral resources

The Red Sea is abundant with different marine plant and animal species. However, it is also known for its mineral deposits, the most common of which are evaporite, petroleum deposits, sulphur, and phosphates.

Oil and natural gas reserves are also present in the Red Sea.

The Red Sea is quite difficult to navigate because of lesser natural harbours and extensive coral reefs, not to forget the many shipwrecks found in this body of water.

1200 species of fish and extensive coral reefs are found in the Red Sea

The Red Sea is home to 1200 fish species, around 10 per cent of which are not found anywhere else in the world. This also includes 42 species of deepwater fish.

These fish thrive on the 2000 kilometres long coral reefs that sit along the shore. These are typically fringing reefs, which are 5000 to 7000 years old and are mostly formed of Acropora and porite corals.

These reefs create platforms and lagoons along the Red Sea coast and occasionally other characteristics like cylinders, like the Blue Hore at Dahab.

The coastal reefs are frequented by pelagic species like some of the 44 shark species. The Red Sea has diverse marine habitats ranging from grass beds, mangroves, salt pans and salt marshes. There are also 157 nudibranch species in the Red Sea, many of which are only found 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 numerous places. The best spots are Marsa Alam, Safaga, El Quseir, Makadi Bay and Dahab in Egypt. It is unique with its countless.

The Red Sea has several offshore reefs and atolls, most of which are unusual formations that defy Darwinian coral reef classifications and are attributed to high tectonic activities that characterise the region.

The Egyptian Government recognised the biodiversity of the Red Sea and established the Ras Mohammed National Park, which has some of the best scuba diving sites.

One of the popular diving and snorkelling spots in the Red Sea is Sharm El Sheikh, on the southern end of the Sinai Peninsula, which is known for luxury resorts along Naama Bay. Marsa Alam in Egypt is famous for its pristine beaches, the award-winning Concorde Moreen Beach Resort & Spa, and the Red Sea The Palace, which offers access to beautiful coral reefs and abundant marine biodiversity.

Hurghada provides one of the best snorkelling opportunities just a short distance from the coastline. One can see coral gardens and colourful fish at the reefs near the El Gouna resort town. Dahab is a charming town on the coast of Egypt and is popular for the iconic dive site, the Blue Hole, which is a natural sinkhole; the lighthouse reef, which is shallow and easily accessible; the Napolean Reef, Gabr el Bint, where one can spot angelfish, pufferfish and turtles.

Visit Eel Garden, named after several garden eels that populate the sandy seabed, to observe these fascinating creatures. The Canyon and Blue Lagoon is known for its stunning underwater rock formations and corals.

Also, the brine pools are studied and researched regarding their microbial life. They are characterised by their diversity and their adaptation to extreme environmental conditions.

There are 18 desalination plants along the Red Sea

Demand for desalinated water is rising, especially to meet the requirements of the increasing population and the industries and factories in the region.

Hence, around 18 desalination plants operate along the coast of the Red Sea that discharge warm brine, chlorine, and and-sealants that are harmful to corals since they bleach and kill them and cause diseases in fish.

This is a serious cause of concern as it might pose a serious threat to the biodiversity of the Red Sea and also impact the Red Sea fishing industry.

The Red Sea has 521 islands

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

In 2016, ownership of 2 islands named Tiran and Sanafir was transferred from Egypt to Saudi Arabia.

Interestingly, not all Red Sea Islands are centuries old. In fact, some were created recently due to volcanic eruptions, such as the islands of Sholan and Jadid, which were carved out in 2001 and 2013 in the Zubair Archipelago close to Yemen.

The Red Sea was formed after a continental drift

In the Eocene Period, Arabia and Africa began to drift away, and the process continued at a fastened pace in the Oligocene period.

The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden were created as the Arabian plate separated from Nubia, and new oceans were formed along the Red Sea and Aden Gulf. Red Sea is said to be relatively young, just 6 to 8 million years old.

Many shipwrecks lie in the Red Sea

Red Sea has many historical shipwreck sites, such as the SS Thistlegorm and SS Carnatic.

The former was a British merchant navy vessel during the Second World War. It was bombed by Germans and sank. Its shipwreck is found at a depth of 30 m or 100 feet. The latter was a British Steamship that carried passengers and cargo. It sank in 1869 after hitting a coral reef along the Red Sea.

Other popular shipwrecks are those of Umbria, Dunraven and Giannis D, to name a few. All these are popular among scuba divers.

The Red Sea is warm most times of the year

The Red Sea lies near the Tropic of Cancer and remains warm. The average temperature here is about 18 Degrees Celsius, even in the winter months of December and January.

During summer, the temperature easily reaches 28 Degrees Celsius. Hence, if you are planning to visit the Red Sea, you don’t have to worry since the waters remain calm and pleasant throughout the year.

Conclusion

The Red Sea is a remarkable water body that is known for its rich marine life. It is also a tourism hotspot, visited by diving enthusiasts along with beachgoers wanting to enjoy peace and tranquillity. Its stunning landscapes leave visitors in awe of its beauty and magnificence. It is also a vital trade sea route, and thousands of ships pass through it annually, which accords it a strategic position.

The beautiful coral reefs, beach resorts, warm and crystal clear waters with majestic creatures and historical places along the shores are some of the things that attract one to the Red Sea.

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About Author

Zahra is an alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is an avid writer, possessing immaculate research and editing skills. Author of several academic papers, she has also worked as a freelance writer, producing many technical, creative and marketing pieces. A true aesthete at heart, she loves books a little more than anything else.

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