Red Sea

Introduction
Physical features
- Physiography and submarine morphology
- Geology
- Climate
- Hydrology
Economic aspects
- Resources
- Navigation
Study and exploration

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

Dense coral reef in the Red Sea with clusters of colorful corals and many small orange fish swimming in clear blue water.

Explore the cities of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv–Yafo and the natural sites of the Dead Sea and the Red Canyon

At a Glance

Red Sea summary

Quizzes

water glass on white background. (drink; clear; clean water; liquid)

Water and its Varying Forms

Shallow staghorn water corals in fringing reef at low tide in Thailand. (coral reefs; endangered area; ocean habitat; sea habitat; coral reef)

Unknown Waters

wave. ocean. Cresting ocean wave. Large sea waves. storm, hurricane, tropical cyclone

All About Oceans and Seas Quiz

Related Questions

How deep is the Red Sea at its deepest point?
How did ancient Egyptians use the Red Sea for trade?
How did the 1973 Yom Kippur War affect oil tanker traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait?
How did the Ever Given block shipping between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea in 2021?
How did the Red Sea change during the Miocene and Pliocene epochs?
How did the Red Sea form between Africa and Arabia?
How did the kingdom of Aksum benefit from its location near the Red Sea?
How did the opening of the Suez Canal change the importance of the Red Sea?
How does the Suez Canal connect the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea?
How hot can summer temperatures become around the Red Sea?
How long is the Red Sea?
How often is the water in the Red Sea completely renewed?
How quickly are Africa and Arabia continuing to move apart?
How wide is the Red Sea at its widest point?
What are Egyptian winds in the Red Sea region?
What evidence shows that tectonic movement is still occurring beneath the Red Sea?
What minerals occur in sediments beneath the Red Sea’s deep brine pools?
What types of goods are transported through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait?
What weather conditions create hazards for ships in the Red Sea?
When did the Suez Canal open to navigation?
Where is the Red Sea located?
Which algae can make the Red Sea appear reddish brown?
Which bodies of water does the Bab el-Mandeb Strait connect?
Which countries border the Red Sea?
Which countries meet at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba?
Who oversaw the construction of the modern Suez Canal?
Why are foreign military bases located in Djibouti near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait?
Why did piracy become a concern near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait?
Why did some shipping companies reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope?
Why did the Suez Canal provide a shorter route between Europe and Asia?
Why does the Suez Canal have no locks?
Why is navigation difficult in the Gulf of Aqaba?
Why is the Gulf of Aqaba much deeper than the Gulf of Suez?
Why is the Red Sea called the Red Sea?
Why is the Red Sea considered a relatively young sea?
What is Diego Garcia?
What is the sovereignty status of Diego Garcia and what happened to its population?
What is the strategic significance of Diego Garcia?
Where is Diego Garcia located?
Is Diego Garcia a U.S. territory?
Did Iran fire missiles at Diego Garcia in 2026?
What was the location of the earthquake that caused the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004?
Where is the Sea of Japan located?
Why are the names Sea of Japan and East Sea disputed?
How does the Sea of Japan influence the climate of Japan?

Geography & Travel Physical Geography of Water Oceans & Seas

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Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

Red Sea - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
Red Sea - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Red Sea

sea, Middle East

Also known as: Al-Baḥr Al-Aḥmar

Written by

William B.F. Ryan

Senior Research Scientist, Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory, Columbia University.

William B.F. RyanAll

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Nov. 2, 2026 •History

Red Sea, narrow strip of water extending southeastward from Suez, Egypt, for about 1,200 miles (1,930 km) to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects with the Gulf of Aden and thence with the Arabian Sea. Geologically, the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba (Elat) must be considered as the northern extension of the same structure. The sea separates the coasts of Egypt, Sudan, and Eritrea to the west from those of Saudi Arabia and Yemen to...

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