Red Sea History & Geography

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Way back before dinosaurs, humankind and package holidays, the Red Sea was formed by Arabia splitting from Africa due to movement of a geological rift. Due to the amount of sun the Red Sea receives causing evaporation, and the lack of significant rivers feeding it, the Red Sea has a higher salt content than many other seas. You may notice you float more easily! What you’ll certainly notice is the warm water year round which goes from the low to high twenties on average. The Red Sea has very clear water, with good visibility down to 200m and spectacular reef systems which thrive in the warm water and circulating currents.

Throughout human history the Red Sea region has been an important centre of world trading and has attracted colonial powers competing for control of trading routes. Ancient canals linked the sea to the Mediterranean allowing traders to access the East without sailing all the way around Africa, giving the area great strategic importance. The Suez Canal, built in the 19th century replaced older canals and remains a vital shipping link today.

The coastal towns and villages around the Red Sea like Sharm-el Sheikh and Hurghada were small ports and fishing villages before they became popular holiday destinations towards the end of the twentieth century. Year round sunshine and the beautiful waters of the Red Sea are a popular draw for tourists and these towns have become thriving resorts. with the growth in tourism, new custom-built resorts have also grown up on the Red Sea, such as Makadi Bay and El Gouna.

The history of Ancient Egypt is fascinating and famous the world over. Little remains of ancient Egypt on the coast, but the river Nile and the city of Luxor are just a few hours drive away. The city of Luxor was the capital of Egypt under the ‘New Kingdom’ between the 16th and 11th Century BC – known to Ancient Greeks as Thebes. In Ancient Egyptian times, the city now known as Luxor was a vibrant and wealthy trading post. Often referred to as the “world’s greatest open air museum”, there are many surviving ruins from this era including spectacular temples within the city such as Karnak and the Luxor temple. Across the river, the famous monuments of the west bank Necropolis include Deir el-Bahri, the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens and the Colossi of Memnon.

More Information

• Hurghada resort guide
• Makadi Bay resort guide
• Sharm el Sheikh resort guide
• Luxor resort guide

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