Gulf of Aqaba, Bay in northern Red Sea between Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
The Gulf of Aqaba is a narrow arm of water in the northern Red Sea that separates the Sinai Peninsula from the Arabian mainland. The seabed drops to depths exceeding 1800 meters in places, and the waterway runs roughly 177 kilometers from north to south.
Egyptian expeditions used these waters as a trade route to southern regions during the Fourth Dynasty. The waterway developed over centuries into a key passage for maritime commerce between Africa and Asia.
The waters surrounding Taba, Eilat, and Aqaba support traditional fishing communities that maintain centuries-old maritime practices and techniques.
Several port cities along the shores of this waterway provide access to the open sea and serve both freight and passenger traffic. The calmer waters in the northern section offer better conditions for boat trips than the deeper southern zones.
Tectonic activity has shaped basins beneath the water that formed as plates pulled apart from each other. These deep structures provide habitat for marine life found only in this region.
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