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 maximun 28 º C and in winter not less than 21 º C. Seldom storms and rainfall (occasionally in winter), as well as mild currents prevent sediments to slow coral growth and allow excellent visiblility.
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
