The Magical Red Sea

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There’s a lot more to the Red Sea than familiar biblical accounts. It has a unique topography with incredible biodiversity and is home to many endangered species. The Red Sea, located at 22.0000° N, 38.0000° E, is a marginal sea of the Indian Ocean, and lies between Africa and Asia. It’s divided into three zones: the Red Sea proper, the Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of Suez, the latter two of which are located in the north. The Red Sea proper is bordered by six countries: the Western shore border is Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, and Djibouti. On the Eastern shore is Saudi Arabia and Yemen. (Kalmar n.p., “Red Sea” 101)
Data of Red Sea currents is lacking today because the currents are too weak and vary too much to be recorded, both spatially and temporally. In addition to other winds, monsoonal and mountain gap winds influence its currents. For four months out of the year, Northwest winds send surface water south at 7 inches per second. In winter, the flow is reversed which creates flooding from the Gulf of Aden into the Red Sea. (Ralston 1, 2)
The average water temperature in the north is a comfortable 79°F, and is slightly warmer in the south at 86°F. This calculates to an average temperature of approximately 72 °F. Even through the winter months the water temperature is relatively stable dropping by only 3.6 °F. (“Red Sea” 102)
The majority of the Red Sea lies within a rift valley separating the African and Arabian plates. (McKenzie 1) The Red Sea is 2,100km long. In the North it is 180 km wide extending to 350 km in the south and narrowing again to 28km where it joins the Indian Ocean. It has an average depth of 490 m, so deep it is considered too dangerous for divers. (Kalmar n.p., Ralston 1 - 2) There are a number of volcanic islands that rise from the center of the sea. Most are dormant. However in the last seven years there has been two eruptions resulting in steam plumes and discolored water. (Israel 1)
The Red Sea has one of the highest salinity levels in the world, with an average salinity of 40%, though the salinity level varies across the sea. For example, in the south the salinity is 36%, while in the north it is 41%. The abnormal salinity concentration is caused by high evaporation, lack of significant tributaries and limited connection with the Indian Ocean, which has lower water salinity.

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