Red Sea facts and figures

The Red Sea was created by the movement of plates in the Earth’s surface about 30 million years ago. At that time, the Arab peninsula started to part from Africa along a thin break line which was filled by the Indian Ocean’s water.

"Mother Nature" has given us an amazing gift of the Red Sea and the land that surrounds it. Unmatched beauty, incomparable richness and variety of marine life, stunning contrasts that will keep you coming back for more.

The Red Sea in nutshell:

• In Arabic : Al Bahr al-Ahmar
• Connects to the Mediterranean in the north via the Suez Canal.
• Opens to the Indian Ocean in the south through the narrow Strait of Bab al Mandab.
• 9 countries located and share the shorelines of the Red Sea
• Formed by the separation of the African and Asian plates.
• Length of 2,250km
• Maximum depth of 2,850m
• Average width is 300km
• Over 1,200 different fish species, 17 percent of these are only found in the Red Sea.
• Over 250 different species of corals, 8 percent of these are only found in the Red Sea.
• Maximum water temperature is 30 degrees Celsius.
• Minimum water temperature is 20 degrees Celsius.
• There is almost 25 Island in the Red Sea - most known: Tiran island, Gubal, Shedwan, Giftun, Brother, Rocky and Zabargad.
• About 17 major shipwrecks in the Egyptian Red Sea only.
• There is loads of mangroves at Ras Mohammed and along the coast of Red Sea.
  
  

The Red Sea got its name from the explosive growth of a blue alga that dyes the normally blue water an orange red. Some other story is in summer the reflection of the rising or falling sun making the surface of the sea seem red.

Get to know more about the Red Sea:

• Reef and marine life
• Responsible traveller to the Red Sea
• Photo gallery

Dive with us in Dahab by the Red Sea:

• Learn to Dive in Dahab by the Red Sea
• Go fun diving in Dahab by the Red Sea
• Special offers and holiday deals in Dahab

Accommodation in Dahab

• Mirage Village Hotel
• Blue Beach Hotel
• Bedouina Holiday apartments