Source: DD News
Context: Environmentalists have raised alarms as Egypt plans large-scale tourism development at Ras Hankorab Beach, part of the Red Sea’s fragile marine ecosystem, risking biodiversity loss amid efforts to boost tourism revenue.
About the Red Sea:
- What is the Red Sea?
- A semi-enclosed tropical sea, part of the Indian Ocean, stretching 1,930 kmfrom the Suez Canal to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
- Connectsto the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal and to the Arabian Sea via the Gulf of Aden.
- Surface Area: ~438,000 sq km.
- Neighbouring Countries: Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, and Djibouti.
- Key Features & Facts:
- Geological Significance:
- Formed by the rift between African & Arabian tectonic plates(still widening at ~15 mm/year).
- Contains hot brine poolsand active volcanic zones (e.g., Jabal Al-Ṭāʾir Island).
- Unique Marine Ecosystem:
- Home to coral reefs resistant to climate change, vital for global marine biodiversity.
- Supports endangered specieslike hawksbill turtles and dugongs.
- Economic & Strategic Importance:
- Major Shipping Route: 12% of global trade passes through, linking Europe & Asia.
- Tourism Hub: Famous for diving (e.g., Blue Hole), generating billions in revenue.
- Climate & Salinity:
- One of the warmest and saltiest seas(up to 41°C in summer).
- Named for occasional red algal blooms(Trichodesmium erythraeum).
- Environmental Threats:
- Over-tourism, coastal development, and oil spills endanger marine life.
- Coral bleachingrisks due to rising sea temperatures.
- Geological Significance:
