Gulf of Aqaba

Aerial view photographed from the Space Shuttle STS -40

The Gulf of Aqaba ( in ancient Aelaniticus sine, Arabic خليج العقبة Chalidsch al - Aqaba, DMG Ḫalīǧ al - ʿ Aqaba ) called, sometimes even after the Israeli coastal city of Gulf of Eilat (Hebrew Mifraz Eilat מיפרץ אילת ), makes about the Gulf of Suez one of the two elongated bays in which runs the Red Sea at its northern end. It separates the Arabian Peninsula from the Sinai Peninsula in the West. The transition between the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba is at the southern end of a strait with islands and reefs, the Straits of Tiran.

The littoral states of the Gulf are Egypt, Israel, Jordan ( with the city of Aqaba as the namesake ) and Saudi Arabia. During the Gulf for Jordan establishes the only access to the sea, it offers Israel - in addition to its Mediterranean coastal shaft - direct access to the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.

The Gulf of Aqaba extends from its origin at the Straits of Tiran in a length of about 175 km. At its widest point it measures 29 km away. The maximum depth is given as 1850 meters. At the northern end, there are three important cities: Taba in Egypt, Eilat in Israel and Aqaba in Jordan. All these cities are commercially important port cities also are there popular vacation destinations for tourists who enjoy the warm climate.

The Gulf of Aqaba is considered as the coastal regions of the Red Sea, a paradise for snorkelers and divers. It is rich in a variety of corals and other sea creatures. Some wrecks, both sunken and sunken ships, are popular dive sites and the habitat of marine organisms.

Geologically, the Gulf of Aqaba is a part of the Great African grave breach, which runs northward from East Africa through the Red Sea and on to the Dead Sea and the Jordan Valley.