Sharm el-Sheikh, Resort town on the Red Sea coast, Egypt
Sharm el-Sheikh is a resort town on the Red Sea coast in South Sinai Governorate, Egypt. The coastline stretches along several bays with sandy beaches and coral reefs, surrounded by dry hills and rocky cliffs that drop into the sea.
The area changed from a small fishing village to a naval base during the 1950s because of its position near the Straits of Tiran. After the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel in 1979, development as an international holiday destination began.
The name translates literally as Bay of the Sheikh, reflecting the Bedouin heritage of the Sinai coast. Many hotels and resorts follow architectural designs that echo traditional stone and palm-leaf construction, though most buildings date from recent decades.
The international airport connects the town with major European cities, while local transport includes taxis and regular coach links to Cairo. Most hotels line the coastal road and offer private beach sections with direct access to the reef.
The waters around the town hold 250 coral reefs and more than 1,000 fish species, forming natural underwater gardens for divers. Some dive sites lie just meters from shore and are accessible directly from the beach.
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