Surrounded
by vast deserts, the Red Sea expands 2000 km (1300 miles) from the
north,
the Gulf of Aqaba, to Bab el Mandeb in the south.
The Gulf of Aqaba ending at the Straits of
Tiran reaches
a length of 180 km (110 miles).
Following the Syrian-African
Rift Valley the
Gulf is 25 km (14 miles) wide, and 1800
m
(6000 feet) deep.
Fringing coral reefs developed all
along the
coast line.
There are many special aspects in this area :
Water temperature
is relatively constant. During
summer
maximum 28
C and in winter not less than 21C.
Seldom
storms and rainfall (occasionally in winter), as
well
as mild currents prevent sediments to slow coral
growth
and allow excellent visibility.
Low humidity and the high rate of evaporation due
to
high temperatures,
make the Red Sea one of
the saltiest
life-sustaining seas in the world.
Salinity reaches
4.1 % and therefore a large variety
of endemic species
have developed.
As a
result this area has one of the richest concentrations
of varieties of marine life in
all of the tropical seas.
