The Red Sea
Red Sea: History, Location, Features and Much More
The Red Sea, consists of a body of water that according to the translation in Hebrew means Mar de los Juncos, this sea is very famous for its appearance in the Exodus account where Moses crosses east with all the people of Israel on foot. In the following article we will know why it is called that way, what is its composition, how it originated and much more referring to it.
The Red Sea, consists of a body of water that according to the translation in Hebrew means Mar de los Juncos, this sea is very famous for its appearance in the Exodus account where Moses crosses east with all the people of Israel on foot. In the following article we will know why it is called that way, what is its composition, how it originated and much more referring to it.
WHAT IS THE RED SEA?
The famous and recognized Red Sea that in Hebrew, translates as the "sea of reeds" or on other occasions as the "sea of reeds" The Hebrew translation can also refer to a freshwater or water lake Salty reeds are a species of freshwater fauna that are located north of what is now the Suez Canal that came to be drained in its construction, or to the end of Aqaba; Other alternatives tend to be located in the Sorbonne Lake, which is north of the Sinai, which is a kind of arm of the Mediterranean Sea.
It is a gulf or also a basin of the Indian Ocean between the continents of Africa and Asia. The connection with the ocean is to the South, through the Bab el - Mandeb Strait and also the Gulf of Aden. To the north is located the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of Suez which in turn tends to reach the Suez Canal.
The sea is about 2,200 km long and the width it has is a maximum of 335 km. The depth tends to be 2,130 meters, the average being about 500 meters. It also has extensive shallow platforms, where there is a large and abundant marine and coral life. The total area tends to be approximately 450,000 km². This sea is part of the Great Rift Valley and is also an important means of communication between the regions of Europe and the Far East.
HOW THE RED SEA FORMED?
The theory that is usually the most widespread and also seconded by the vast majority of experts, is that the Red Sea was formed about 55 million years ago during the separation of the nation from Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, being in such a way between them a large and extensive crack that was later to be filled with water. That is, this is what led to the formation of this type of sea was the great separation of the layer of the earth's crust.
This type of crust separation process currently continues to take place actively, following the Tectonic Plate model of the famous expert named Wilson, whereby this sea will continue to increase in size in a future that is not very distant, Well, nowadays the water level of this sea increases about 12.5 cm per year.
HISTORY AND THEORIES
The truth certainly does not exist clear answers regarding why this sea is called as the Red Sea, there are many researchers and experts who differ in the theories about the logical reason for its name. However, there are several theories that are found in the solution to this question. Some of the theories are:
THEORY OF ALGAE AND CYANOBACTERIES
The first of the theories that often tends to be shuffled is that there is no reference to a true type of reddish color of the waters of that sea. It is very possible that it alludes to a certain tide of red hue which is produced by the cause of seasonal outcrops that are close to the surface of the water of a species of bacteria called Cyanobacteria which is scientifically referred to as Trichodesmium Erythraeum which is the cause of dyeing the waters of this sea red, this type of phenomenon is also observed in the Caribbean waters.
On the other hand, in addition to the Cyanobacteria, it is believed that the Red Sea is also nominated in that way because of the presence of the algae that are located inside it in a large portion. During some of the Seasons of the Year, these algae tend to undergo a development process that causes the waters to become dyed in a tone that is reddish brown.
HISTORY OF THE BIBLE
Some great researchers come to find the great explanation as to why the Red Sea is of this color in the biblical texts, especially in the Exodus in the episode in which a man led by God named Moses, who was protected by the same power from God, he managed to separate the waters of this sea on both sides so that he could escape with all the people of Israel.
However, when the Egyptians were trying to chase them the waters of the sea closed over them again and their blood was the cause for which the waters of the sea turned red.
TRANSLATION ERRORS
It is said that the so-called Red Sea is called that way by a simple translation error when converting the biblical texts from the Hebrew language to the Greek language. This theory states that in an original way the translation correctly was that of "Mar de Juncos", and that the wrong form comes from the confusion in the English language "Reed" which is (Junco) with "Red" which means (Red ).
CARDINAL POINTS
Another theory that tends to seek the explanation about the origin of the name is that it consists of the cardinal points, that is, that the name assigned to it refers to a specific geographical delimitation, since in innumerable occasions some of Asian languages tend to use colors to get to call the orientations, as is the case of the ancient Persians. More specifically, red is the one that refers to the south, and in an equivalent way it is black which would correspond to the north which is where the Black Sea is located.
VARIOUS THEORIES ABOUT COLOR
There is also the supposed case that the Red Sea receives its name because of the mountainous landscapes that tend to surround it and are usually reflected in its waters.
The ancient navigators called this sea as such when they saw the famous reddish cliffs reflected on it. Equivalently, this usually occurs with the hypothesis that tends to seek explanation at Mount Sinai, which is located very close to the Red Sea. These mountains are abundantly rich in certain minerals that are reddish, this is the reason why they are also called the ruby mountains.
In the course of the early hours of the morning the rays emitted by the sun usually illuminate said mountain, so this is what causes it to be reflected in the water and that it acquires said reddish hue which tends to be very characteristic.
There is another hypothesis that is very similar and refers to the late afternoon when the sun is already falling on the border between the nations of Israel and Egypt. At this time the sea becomes reddish in color since it tends to mirror the sky and, to the idea mentioned above, to the mountains and also to the cliffs of reddish tones that tend to surround it.
WHAT IS THE LOCATION OF THE RED SEA?
The narrow Sea that tends to separate the Arabian Peninsula from Africa, and that tends to divide in the north into about 2 gulfs that are separated by the Sinai Peninsula.
The Red Sea, from Suez to the Bab el - Mandeb Strait, is approximately 2,100 km long and also 240 km wide, but only the 2 gulfs it has in the north are those that play a role in biblical history.
The western arm is also known as the Gulf of Heliopolis, and is now called the Gulf of Suez, so it is about 290 km long and an average of 32 km wide.
The eastern arm is known as the Gulf of Aqaba, this gulf is about 175 km long and approximately 24 km wide.
The navigations that were made by the Red Sea became very dangerous in antiquity all because of the sudden storms that were rising there, and because of the many hidden coral banks that still exist in it. In the book Isaiah in chapter 11 verse 15 it is referred to as the "Sea of Egypt."
This so-called Red Sea is well known for the relationship it had with the history of the exodus, in which the Israelites came to cross completely dry on foot after the waters came to divide this can be read in the book of Exodus 13: 18; 14: 21-31; 15: 4 Apparently this crossing was made near the northern end of the Gulf of Suez, however it is very difficult to locate the exact location.
On the other hand, the Gulf of Aqaba is obviously the other arm of the Red Sea that tends to relate to the story of the desert tour, shortly after they left Mount Sinai you can see this story in the book of Number 21: 4; and in Deuteronomy 1:40. The Israelites came to be in Ezion - geber and Elat, which were 2 places located at the north end of this gulf, on the way to the Transjordan says the book of Deuteronomy 2: 8.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RED SEA
The Red Sea is a kind of body of water that is narrow and also elongated. Before the construction of the so-called Suez Canal, the Strait of Bad el - Mandeb was the only way to enter the Red Sea, however even today it is the only natural entrance. In the north, the peninsula of Mount Sinai tends to divide it into 2 parts that are,
The Gulf of Aqaba
The Gulf of Suez
The latter mentioned is extended to the channel of the same name, which connects the Red and Mediterranean seas.
This has a total area of approximately 438,000 to 440,300 km², also has a length of about 2,250 km and a width of up to 355 km. Despite its great narrowness at its point that tends to be deeper, it has been recorded about 2,211 or 3,000 meters below sea level.
Its average depth tends to be about 490 meters. The Red Sea is usually the hottest of all the seas in the world, with about 26 to 30 ºC in the summer seasons and with a variation of about 2 ºC in the winter season; that is, the surface temperature of the water does not tend to decrease more than 2 ° C. There are no rivers or streams that tend to flow into it.
The exchange of water that exists with the aforementioned gulfs, the Mediterranean Sea and also in the Indian Ocean, tends to be scarce. It is a sea of great salinity, since evaporation is usually very high and precipitation is very rare. This is, in fact, much saltier than the Indian Ocean itself.
RED SEA FORMATION
As for the age of this sea, it is not very well defined or clear. Some of the scientists believe that this sea began to form about 20 million years ago, due to the great weakening of the earth's crust which led to cracking through Africa. Later, the volcanoes that erupted appeared and it was when they created the volcanic mountains towards the extremes, until the water began to fill it at every moment and it was making the crack bigger.
Other scientists tend to think that its appearance is due to about 55 million years ago when the great land mass began to divide, and it was when it gave rise to Africa and also to the Arabian Peninsula, while the crack was going filling with water Basically, most of the experts if they are in the same agreement that it was the separation of the earth's crust that gave rise to the formation of this sea.
It is very possible that the separation of the same has been as produced during the Eocene period and has been advancing much faster during the Oligocene part. In the Tertiary period the land was closed to the south and it was when the narrow Bar called el - Mandeb emerged.
The water level tends to increase about 12.5 cm each year, and it is not something that is far-fetched to think that in the next million years this usually increases in size.
WHAT IS THE DEPTH OF THIS SEA?
The total area of the Red Sea tends to be about 440,000 to 450,000 km², reaching east to measure approximately 2,200 km long and reaching an average depth of about 490 to 500 meters, however its deepest point is located at about 2,130 meters below sea level.
THE BIODIVERSITY
The Red Sea is abundantly rich in terms of Natural Resources and also maintains numerous species as well as animals and plants which are unique throughout the world, this is the result of its relative isolation from other seas. More than 10% of the fish species inhabit only in this sea, this is not even something close to the Indian Ocean.
In this sea tend to highlight their coral reefs that are in the center and also in the north, which usually cover about 2,000 km along the coasts and that these can support the abundant animal life as per.
TOURISM IN THE SEA
This sea is very famous for its places for diving, where you can swim in an extraordinary aquatic life, such as Ras Mohammed and the Rocky Island in Egypt. There are also places that are less known in the regions of Sudan, for example:
Sanganeb
Angarosh
Shaab rumi
The Red Sea became a very important destination for diving enthusiasts from the expeditions of Hans Hass in the 1950s and those of Jacques - Yves Cousteau in subsequent decades. He is also well known for the story told by the Bible that these waters were split in 2 so that the Israelites could get through so that they could escape from the Egyptians.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
The temperature of the water surface is maintained between 20 and 40 ° C throughout the year. The view also tends to be very good up to 200 meters, however the sea is known for its great blows of strong winds and also for the unpredictable local currents. All this originated when Africa became separated from the Arabian peninsula, a type of movement that began some 30 million years ago.
This effect continues today, and the sea is gradually widening, so it tends to develop certain volcanic activities in its parts that are deeper. The model of a man named John Tuzo Wilson, with which a majority of the scientific community tends to coincide, stipulates that this so-called red sea will become an ocean in the not too distant future.
THE FAUNA IN THE RED SEA
In this extraordinary sea there is a diverse variety of animals. It is said to be even richer and more abundant in corals such as the so-called Anthelia glauca, of fish and also of other marine organisms than the Indian Ocean itself. Its isolation has originated endemic species, that is, they are exclusive to these regions.
However, not exclusive, the coral species Acropora pharaonis is distributed throughout the Red Sea and also by the coral regions of the Western Indian Ocean, between the African coast and in southern India and Sri Lanka. Other types of species also inhabit such as the Giant Sea Fan and the Sulfur Sea Fan.
THE BEACHES OF THE RED SEA
They are considered as a kind of gift of nature. The waters of the Red Sea are originally blue, so clean and also crystal clear, this sea tends to offer a wide variety of coral reefs and various fish which are unique in their genus.
The chain of mountains with different shades of color tend to run parallel to the sea, and the sea usually only separates 1 plain in which you can get to camp.
THREATS
Given the geographical situation of the Red Sea, which is narrow and partially closed, it tends to be very vulnerable to people's activities because the waters cannot get out very easily and can be cleaned. Throughout its history it has experienced certain oil spills, some wastewater discharges and also runoff that tend to affect water quality and marine species.
Tourism development, with its large hotels and extensive recreational activities which are carried out at sea, are a constant kind of threat as they are prone to be able to contaminate with large amounts of garbage and residual waste, as well as the noise produced.
In recent decades, at least some 18 desalination plants have been established that usually discharge certain chemicals and tend to represent, in the long term, a cause of death for all corals, because all these creatures tend to be very sensitive to the changes that occur in the surrounding water.
The famous and recognized Red Sea that in Hebrew, translates as the "sea of reeds" or on other occasions as the "sea of reeds" The Hebrew translation can also refer to a freshwater or water lake Salty reeds are a species of freshwater fauna that are located north of what is now the Suez Canal that came to be drained in its construction, or to the end of Aqaba; Other alternatives tend to be located in the Sorbonne Lake, which is north of the Sinai, which is a kind of arm of the Mediterranean Sea.
It is a gulf or also a basin of the Indian Ocean between the continents of Africa and Asia. The connection with the ocean is to the South, through the Bab el - Mandeb Strait and also the Gulf of Aden. To the north is located the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of Suez which in turn tends to reach the Suez Canal.
The sea is about 2,200 km long and the width it has is a maximum of 335 km. The depth tends to be 2,130 meters, the average being about 500 meters. It also has extensive shallow platforms, where there is a large and abundant marine and coral life. The total area tends to be approximately 450,000 km². This sea is part of the Great Rift Valley and is also an important means of communication between the regions of Europe and the Far East.
The theory that is usually the most widespread and also seconded by the vast majority of experts, is that the Red Sea was formed about 55 million years ago during the separation of the nation from Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, being in such a way between them a large and extensive crack that was later to be filled with water. That is, this is what led to the formation of this type of sea was the great separation of the layer of the earth's crust.
This type of crust separation process currently continues to take place actively, following the Tectonic Plate model of the famous expert named Wilson, whereby this sea will continue to increase in size in a future that is not very distant, Well, nowadays the water level of this sea increases about 12.5 cm per year.
HISTORY AND THEORIES
The truth certainly does not exist clear answers regarding why this sea is called as the Red Sea, there are many researchers and experts who differ in the theories about the logical reason for its name. However, there are several theories that are found in the solution to this question. Some of the theories are:
THEORY OF ALGAE AND CYANOBACTERIES
The first of the theories that often tends to be shuffled is that there is no reference to a true type of reddish color of the waters of that sea. It is very possible that it alludes to a certain tide of red hue which is produced by the cause of seasonal outcrops that are close to the surface of the water of a species of bacteria called Cyanobacteria which is scientifically referred to as Trichodesmium Erythraeum which is the cause of dyeing the waters of this sea red, this type of phenomenon is also observed in the Caribbean waters.
On the other hand, in addition to the Cyanobacteria, it is believed that the Red Sea is also nominated in that way because of the presence of the algae that are located inside it in a large portion. During some of the Seasons of the Year, these algae tend to undergo a development process that causes the waters to become dyed in a tone that is reddish brown.
Some great researchers come to find the great explanation as to why the Red Sea is of this color in the biblical texts, especially in the Exodus in the episode in which a man led by God named Moses, who was protected by the same power from God, he managed to separate the waters of this sea on both sides so that he could escape with all the people of Israel.
However, when the Egyptians were trying to chase them the waters of the sea closed over them again and their blood was the cause for which the waters of the sea turned red.
TRANSLATION ERRORS
It is said that the so-called Red Sea is called that way by a simple translation error when converting the biblical texts from the Hebrew language to the Greek language. This theory states that in an original way the translation correctly was that of "Mar de Juncos", and that the wrong form comes from the confusion in the English language "Reed" which is (Junco) with "Red" which means (Red ).
CARDINAL POINTS
Another theory that tends to seek the explanation about the origin of the name is that it consists of the cardinal points, that is, that the name assigned to it refers to a specific geographical delimitation, since in innumerable occasions some of Asian languages tend to use colors to get to call the orientations, as is the case of the ancient Persians. More specifically, red is the one that refers to the south, and in an equivalent way it is black which would correspond to the north which is where the Black Sea is located.
VARIOUS THEORIES ABOUT COLOR
There is also the supposed case that the Red Sea receives its name because of the mountainous landscapes that tend to surround it and are usually reflected in its waters.
In the course of the early hours of the morning the rays emitted by the sun usually illuminate said mountain, so this is what causes it to be reflected in the water and that it acquires said reddish hue which tends to be very characteristic.
There is another hypothesis that is very similar and refers to the late afternoon when the sun is already falling on the border between the nations of Israel and Egypt. At this time the sea becomes reddish in color since it tends to mirror the sky and, to the idea mentioned above, to the mountains and also to the cliffs of reddish tones that tend to surround it.
WHAT IS THE LOCATION OF THE RED SEA?
The narrow Sea that tends to separate the Arabian Peninsula from Africa, and that tends to divide in the north into about 2 gulfs that are separated by the Sinai Peninsula.
The Red Sea, from Suez to the Bab el - Mandeb Strait, is approximately 2,100 km long and also 240 km wide, but only the 2 gulfs it has in the north are those that play a role in biblical history.
The western arm is also known as the Gulf of Heliopolis, and is now called the Gulf of Suez, so it is about 290 km long and an average of 32 km wide.
The eastern arm is known as the Gulf of Aqaba, this gulf is about 175 km long and approximately 24 km wide.
The navigations that were made by the Red Sea became very dangerous in antiquity all because of the sudden storms that were rising there, and because of the many hidden coral banks that still exist in it. In the book Isaiah in chapter 11 verse 15 it is referred to as the "Sea of Egypt."
This so-called Red Sea is well known for the relationship it had with the history of the exodus, in which the Israelites came to cross completely dry on foot after the waters came to divide this can be read in the book of Exodus 13: 18; 14: 21-31; 15: 4 Apparently this crossing was made near the northern end of the Gulf of Suez, however it is very difficult to locate the exact location.
On the other hand, the Gulf of Aqaba is obviously the other arm of the Red Sea that tends to relate to the story of the desert tour, shortly after they left Mount Sinai you can see this story in the book of Number 21: 4; and in Deuteronomy 1:40. The Israelites came to be in Ezion - geber and Elat, which were 2 places located at the north end of this gulf, on the way to the Transjordan says the book of Deuteronomy 2: 8.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RED SEA
The Red Sea is a kind of body of water that is narrow and also elongated. Before the construction of the so-called Suez Canal, the Strait of Bad el - Mandeb was the only way to enter the Red Sea, however even today it is the only natural entrance. In the north, the peninsula of Mount Sinai tends to divide it into 2 parts that are,
The Gulf of Aqaba
The Gulf of Suez
The latter mentioned is extended to the channel of the same name, which connects the Red and Mediterranean seas.
This has a total area of approximately 438,000 to 440,300 km², also has a length of about 2,250 km and a width of up to 355 km. Despite its great narrowness at its point that tends to be deeper, it has been recorded about 2,211 or 3,000 meters below sea level.
Its average depth tends to be about 490 meters. The Red Sea is usually the hottest of all the seas in the world, with about 26 to 30 ºC in the summer seasons and with a variation of about 2 ºC in the winter season; that is, the surface temperature of the water does not tend to decrease more than 2 ° C. There are no rivers or streams that tend to flow into it.
The exchange of water that exists with the aforementioned gulfs, the Mediterranean Sea and also in the Indian Ocean, tends to be scarce. It is a sea of great salinity, since evaporation is usually very high and precipitation is very rare. This is, in fact, much saltier than the Indian Ocean itself.
RED SEA FORMATION
As for the age of this sea, it is not very well defined or clear. Some of the scientists believe that this sea began to form about 20 million years ago, due to the great weakening of the earth's crust which led to cracking through Africa. Later, the volcanoes that erupted appeared and it was when they created the volcanic mountains towards the extremes, until the water began to fill it at every moment and it was making the crack bigger.
Other scientists tend to think that its appearance is due to about 55 million years ago when the great land mass began to divide, and it was when it gave rise to Africa and also to the Arabian Peninsula, while the crack was going filling with water Basically, most of the experts if they are in the same agreement that it was the separation of the earth's crust that gave rise to the formation of this sea.
It is very possible that the separation of the same has been as produced during the Eocene period and has been advancing much faster during the Oligocene part. In the Tertiary period the land was closed to the south and it was when the narrow Bar called el - Mandeb emerged.
The water level tends to increase about 12.5 cm each year, and it is not something that is far-fetched to think that in the next million years this usually increases in size.
WHAT IS THE DEPTH OF THIS SEA?
The total area of the Red Sea tends to be about 440,000 to 450,000 km², reaching east to measure approximately 2,200 km long and reaching an average depth of about 490 to 500 meters, however its deepest point is located at about 2,130 meters below sea level.
THE BIODIVERSITY
The Red Sea is abundantly rich in terms of Natural Resources and also maintains numerous species as well as animals and plants which are unique throughout the world, this is the result of its relative isolation from other seas. More than 10% of the fish species inhabit only in this sea, this is not even something close to the Indian Ocean.
In this sea tend to highlight their coral reefs that are in the center and also in the north, which usually cover about 2,000 km along the coasts and that these can support the abundant animal life as per.
TOURISM IN THE SEA
This sea is very famous for its places for diving, where you can swim in an extraordinary aquatic life, such as Ras Mohammed and the Rocky Island in Egypt. There are also places that are less known in the regions of Sudan, for example:
Sanganeb
Angarosh
Shaab rumi
The Red Sea became a very important destination for diving enthusiasts from the expeditions of Hans Hass in the 1950s and those of Jacques - Yves Cousteau in subsequent decades. He is also well known for the story told by the Bible that these waters were split in 2 so that the Israelites could get through so that they could escape from the Egyptians.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
The temperature of the water surface is maintained between 20 and 40 ° C throughout the year. The view also tends to be very good up to 200 meters, however the sea is known for its great blows of strong winds and also for the unpredictable local currents. All this originated when Africa became separated from the Arabian peninsula, a type of movement that began some 30 million years ago.
This effect continues today, and the sea is gradually widening, so it tends to develop certain volcanic activities in its parts that are deeper. The model of a man named John Tuzo Wilson, with which a majority of the scientific community tends to coincide, stipulates that this so-called red sea will become an ocean in the not too distant future.
THE FAUNA IN THE RED SEA
In this extraordinary sea there is a diverse variety of animals. It is said to be even richer and more abundant in corals such as the so-called Anthelia glauca, of fish and also of other marine organisms than the Indian Ocean itself. Its isolation has originated endemic species, that is, they are exclusive to these regions.
However, not exclusive, the coral species Acropora pharaonis is distributed throughout the Red Sea and also by the coral regions of the Western Indian Ocean, between the African coast and in southern India and Sri Lanka. Other types of species also inhabit such as the Giant Sea Fan and the Sulfur Sea Fan.
THE BEACHES OF THE RED SEA
They are considered as a kind of gift of nature. The waters of the Red Sea are originally blue, so clean and also crystal clear, this sea tends to offer a wide variety of coral reefs and various fish which are unique in their genus.
The chain of mountains with different shades of color tend to run parallel to the sea, and the sea usually only separates 1 plain in which you can get to camp.
THREATS
Given the geographical situation of the Red Sea, which is narrow and partially closed, it tends to be very vulnerable to people's activities because the waters cannot get out very easily and can be cleaned. Throughout its history it has experienced certain oil spills, some wastewater discharges and also runoff that tend to affect water quality and marine species.
Tourism development, with its large hotels and extensive recreational activities which are carried out at sea, are a constant kind of threat as they are prone to be able to contaminate with large amounts of garbage and residual waste, as well as the noise produced.
In recent decades, at least some 18 desalination plants have been established that usually discharge certain chemicals and tend to represent, in the long term, a cause of death for all corals, because all these creatures tend to be very sensitive to the changes that occur in the surrounding water.
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