Marsa Alam ( ar,
مرسى علم ' ,
Classical Arabic ) is a town in south-eastern
Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Med ...
, located on the western shore of the
Red Sea
The Red Sea ( ar, البحر الأحمر - بحر القلزم, translit=Modern: al-Baḥr al-ʾAḥmar, Medieval: Baḥr al-Qulzum; or ; Coptic: ⲫⲓⲟⲙ ⲛ̀ϩⲁϩ ''Phiom Enhah'' or ⲫⲓⲟⲙ ⲛ̀ϣⲁⲣⲓ ''Phiom ǹšari''; ...
. It is currently seeing fast increasing popularity as a tourist destination and development following the opening of
Marsa Alam International Airport in 2003.
Due to its crystal clear water and its white sandy beaches, it is also known as the "Egyptian Maldives".
Among the most famous beaches around Marsa Alam is the Abu Dabab beach. In Abu Dabab, turtles are a common sight. For tourists who seek to see something less typical, there is marine wildlife like
crocodilefish and
octopuses.
Marsa Alam is also known as the world-class kitesurfing destination and starting point for safaris.
Marsa Alam also has some inland attractions, such as the Emerald Mines and the Temple of
Seti I
Menmaatre Seti I (or Sethos I in Greek) was the second pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt during the New Kingdom period, ruling c.1294 or 1290 BC to 1279 BC. He was the son of Ramesses I and Sitre, and the father of Ramesses II.
The ...
at Khanais.
Climate
Despite being over north of the
tropical zone, the city experiences a tropical
hot desert climate (
Köppen: BWh),
with steadier temperatures than places to the north such as
Hurghada and
Sharm el Sheikh, yet
Kosseir is steadier and has cooler summers. Marsa Alam, Kosseir and Sharm el-Sheikh have the warmest night temperatures of all other
Egyptian cities and resorts. Average maximum temperatures during January typically range from and in August .
The temperature of the Red Sea at this location during the year ranges from .
The highest record temperature was , recorded on May 10, 2010, while the lowest record temperature was , recorded on January 3, 2008.
See also
*
Red Sea Riviera
*
El Gouna
*
Sahl Hasheesh
*
List of cities and towns in Egypt
A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to:
People
* List (surname)
Organizations
* List College, an undergraduate division of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
* SC Germania List, German rugby uni ...
References
External links
On the Red Sea, as Hotels Go Up, Divers Head Down''The New York Times'' on diving in Marsa Alam (April 8, 2007)
Marsa Alam Guide
{{Authority control
Populated places in Red Sea Governorate
Populated coastal places in Egypt
Red Sea
Resorts in Egypt
Seaside resorts in Egypt
Tourism in Egypt
Underwater diving sites in Egypt