Red Sea
| Red Sea | |
|---|---|
Map of the Red Sea | |
| Location | North Africa, East Africa, and West Asia |
| Coordinates | 22°N 38°E / 22°N 38°E |
| Type | Sea |
| Primary inflows | Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Suez |
| Primary outflows | Bab-el-Mandeb, Suez Canal |
| Basin countries | |
| Max. length | 2,250 km (1,400 mi) |
| Max. width | 355 km (221 mi) |
| Surface area | 438,000 km2 (169,000 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 490 m (1,610 ft) |
| Max. depth | 2,730 m (8,960 ft) |
| Water volume | 233,000 km3 (56,000 cu mi) |
| Location | |
Interactive map of Red Sea | |
The Red Sea is a sea inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. Its connection to the ocean is in the south, through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden. To the north of the Red Sea lies the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez, which leads to the Suez Canal. It is underlain by the Red Sea Rift, which is part of the Great Rift Valley.
The Red Sea has a surface area of roughly 438,000 km2 (169,000 sq mi), is about 2,250 km (1,400 mi) long, and 355 km (221 mi) across at its widest point. It has an average depth of 490 m (1,610 ft), and in the central Suakin Trough, it reaches its maximum depth of 2,730 m (8,960 ft).
The Red Sea is quite shallow, with approximately 40% of its area being less than 100 m (330 ft) deep, and approximately 25% being less than 50 m (160 ft) deep. The extensive shallow shelves are noted for their marine life and corals. More than 1,000 invertebrate species and 200 types of soft and hard coral live in the sea. The Red Sea is the world's northernmost tropical sea and has been designated a Global 200 ecoregion.