Red Sea History

Egypt's Red Sea coast runs from the Gulf of Suez to the Sudanese border. Its mineral-rich red mountain ranges inspired the mariners of antiquity to name the sea Mare Rostrum, or the Red Sea.

Ships have sailed, and sunk, in the Red Sea since Phoenician and Ancient Egyptian times. For centuries, the Red Sea remained a scene of shipwreck and adventure for smugglers, merchants, pirates and pilgrims. After the opening of the Suez Canal, in 1869, it continued its role as an international trade route and "Passage to India" for European travellers.

The thermal winds that once sped clippers to the East still bring thousands of migrating birds to the Red Sea shores, making it a paradise for bird-watchers. Today, the ancient ports are better known as some of the best diving and fishing resorts in the world. Here, you will find over 800 fish species or find shade in the mangrove lagoons that line the coast, while snorkellers explore the reefs. And the underwater wonder of the Red Sea remains a living tapestry of vibrant corals and exotic fish.

The Red Sea is the northern end of the Great Rift Valley, the great crack in the earth where Africa and Asia are drifting apart - at an estimated rate of 1 - 2 cms per year. In this giant split the Red Sea is deep: more than 2000m deep in the Gulf of Aqaba, just off Dahab. It has only one major inlet - in the south, between Yemen and Somalia - which means it is hardly tidal at all; and that the sun constantly heats it, giving year-round warm water.