South Sinai

The Sinai Peninsula belongs to Egypt since 1982. The whole Sinai has a width of 200 km and an area of approximately 50.000 square km. The scant Sinai Mountains range near the coast.

The Sinai is bordered by the Gulf of Suez in the west and the Gulf of Aqaba in the east. In the north, the area is restricted by the deserts of Jordan and Israel.

The South Sinai Peninsula, especially the Gulf of Aqaba region, situated between two continents, Asia and Africa, is endowed with a rich natural and cultural diversity of national and international importance. The Protected Areas in South Sinai are represented by a wide range of marine and terrestrial ecosystems:

Marine & coastal ecosystems

• the northernmost intact mangrove meadows
• seagrass beds
• internationally recognized coral reefs
• easy accessible fossil reefs
   

Terrestrial & desert ecosystems

• high altitude deserts
• connecting wadi systems
• green oases with diverse vegetation
• unique dune landscapes and alluvial fans
• breathtaking landscapes and geological formations
   

And an amazing cultural heritage

• represented by the Bedouins and their fascinating adaptations to a life in the desert
• places such as the Saint Catherine Monastery