The
name of the sea does not indicate the
colour of the water. It may signify the
seasonal blooms of the red-coloured cyanobacteria
Trichodesmium erythraeum near the water
surface. Some suggest that it refers to
the mineral-rich red mountains nearby
which are called harei edom. Edom, meaning
"ruddy complexion", is also
an alternative Hebrew name for the red-faced
biblical character Esau (brother of Jacob),
and the nation descended from him, the
Edomites, which in turn provides yet another
possible origin for Red Sea. There is
also speculation that the name Red Sea
came from a mistranslation of what should
have been the Reed Sea in the Biblical
story of the Exodus. The Red Sea in Sudan.Surface
water temperatures remain relatively constant
at 21-25°C and temperature and visibility
remain good to around 200 m, but the sea
is known for its strong winds and tricky
local currents.
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