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Egypt
Red Sea:
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| The
Red Sea Coast: |
| "..
That exquisite corridor of tinted mountains and
radiant water ... here and nowhere else, is the
vestibule between the Levant and the
Tropics." E.M. Forster describing the Gulf
of Suez, 1923. |
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| Egypt's
Red Sea coast runs from the Gulf of Suez to the
Sudanese border. Its mineral - rich red mountain
ranges inspired the mariners of antiquity to
name the sea Mare Rostrum or the Red Sea. |
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| Hermits
seeking seclusion founded early Christian
monasteries here, sharing the wilderness with
camel-trading Bedouin tribes. Today, the crags
and limestone wad's of the Eastern Desert remain
relatively unexplored, home to bards of ibex and
gazelle. But the Red Sea itself, dotted with
coral reefs, fringed by ancient ports, abounding
in underwater life, has a rich maritime history
which stretches back to Pharanic times. |
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| Suez: |
| Suez has
been a commercial port since the 7th century.
The spice trade and pilgrmages to Mecca made it
prosperous throughout the Middle Ages . It
became a naval base in the 15th century and, in
1869, the opening of the suez Canal ensured its
development as a modern city. Today, Suez is one
of Egypt 's largest Ports. |
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| El
Ain El Sukhna
: |
| El Ain
El Sukhna the Arabic for " hot spring
" was named after the nearby sulphur
springs. Close enough to Cairo for a day-trip,
this popular weekend resort has fine beaches,
coves and coral reefs. It is also an ideal site
for fishing and water sports. |
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| El
Gouna: |
| El Gouna:
25km north of Hurghada. It is a tourist resort
recently developed to offer ultra-modern
facilities. It consists of several tourist
resort , International hotels of different
categories, diving centers and a golf course. it
has a small airport for handling private planes. |
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| Hurghada: |
| Founded
in the early 20th century, Hurghada has gone on
to become the foremost tourist resort of the Red
Sea coast and an International center for
aquatic sports. an excellent location for
windsurfing, sailing, deep-sea fishing,
swimming, snorkeling and diving. The unique
underwater gardens offshore are some of the
finest in the world-justifiably famous amongst
divers. |
| Make a
Day -trip to Giftun Island for snorkeling and a
fish barbecue, view the sea through a
glass-bottomed bead or in a submarine. |
| You can
shop in the boutiques, relax in the luxury
tourist villages, visit the Aquarium or the
Roman remains near Gabal Abu Dukhan. Day-trips
or safaris to explore the Red Sea Mountains by
camel or jeep are also available. |
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| Safaga: |
| Safaga
city is a port on the Red Sea besides being a
renowned resort a variety of vacationers and
divers. Safaga resort hosts a variety of lodging
properties, diving centers and offers excellent
seafood specialties. The resort is reputable for
its unpolluted atmosphere, black sand-dunes and
mineral springs that attract visitors from all
over the world and windsurfers in particular.
Day trips to Tobia Island or Mona Claudianus in
the Red Sea Mountains can be arranged with
travel agencies. |
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| Al-Qusseir: |
| It has a
long history as one of the Red Sea port: from
here Queen Hatshepsut launched her expedition to
The Land of Punt. The 16th-century Fortress of
Sultan Selim, still standing in the town center,
shows Al-Quasar's strategic importance. Today.
its a quiet resort with sandy beaches, clear
waters, coral coral reefs and places for
accommodation. It is also a suitable site for
camping and water sports. An ancient caravan
trail to Qift in the Nile valley, leads from Al-Qusseir
through the mountains, passing several Pharaonic
and Roman sites. Anew road, direct to Luxor, has
been opened. |
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| Marsa
Alam: |
| A
village with a small harbour and stone quay,
Marsa Alam is the ideal base for a fishing
holiday. Dokki Shooting Club has a resthouse
where deep-sea fishing trips are arranged. There
are some fine offshore coral coral reefs, and
diving facilities are available. Anature reserve
stretches from here to Gabel Elba in the south.
It hosts hotels and tourist villages. |
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| Berenice: |
| The
ancient city of Bernice, named by Ptolemy II,
became trading port in 275 BC. Ruins of Temple
of Semiramis is located near the modern town,
inland there are the remains of the emerald
mines of Wadi Sakait, That were mined during
Pharaonic and Roman periods . The coast is lined
with mangrove swamps and unspoilt bays and
coves. Offshore, visit the tectonic island of
Zabargad, a geological phenomenon which is also
famous as the source of the semi-precious gem
olivine, mined here from 1500 BC until the
mid-20th century. From Peridot hill, there are
breathtaking view of the surrounding blue
lagoons, rich in marine life and home to many
dolphins. |
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| St.
Anthony's Monstery: |
| St.
Anthony's Monstery and its neighbor St. Paul's
are the oldest monasteries in Egypt. hidden deep
in the Red Sea mountains and relying on springs
for their water supply. Both still observe
rituals that have hardly changed in 16
centuries. They are accessible by special tours
from Cairo, Suez or Hurghada. Accommodation in
either monastery can be arranged in advance. St.
Anthony's was founded in 356, just after saint's
death. It houses gardens, a mill, a bakery and
five churches with exceptional wall paintings
and icons. There is also a library that boasta
over 1700 manuscripts. St. Anthony's Cave is a
2km. high from the monastery and 680m above the
Red Sea. It offers stunning views of the
mountains and the sea, besides the chance to see
a wide range of bird life. The Egyptian Red Sea
border ends at Shalateen and Halayeb, two
destinations for those who seek relaxation and
diving. |