You’ve probably seen it a thousand times in history books or while scrolling through Instagram travel feeds, but if someone handed you a blank globe right now, could you point to it? Most people can’t. They roughly wave a hand toward Africa or the Middle East and call it a day. But the Red Sea isn't just some random patch of water. It's a massive, salty fracture in the Earth's crust that separates two entire continents.
It sits right there between Africa and Asia.
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To be specific, where is the Red Sea located on a map? You’ll find it tucked neatly between the northeast corner of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It’s long. It’s skinny. It looks a bit like a giant, jagged slug crawling toward the Mediterranean. To the west, you’ve got Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, and Djibouti. To the east, the massive coastline of Saudi Arabia and the smaller edge of Yemen. It’s a narrow strip, but it carries about 12% of global trade on its back every single day.
Finding the Red Sea Without Getting Lost
If you're looking at a world map, start by finding the giant "V" shape of the Arabian Peninsula. That’s your anchor. The Red Sea is the blue sliver on the left side of that "V." It’s basically a flooded rift valley.
Geologically, this is a fascinating spot. The African Plate and the Arabian Plate are literally pulling away from each other. They’ve been doing it for millions of years. Eventually—and we’re talking millions of years from now—the Red Sea will probably become a full-blown ocean. For now, it’s a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, connected via the Bab el-Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden.
At the top, the sea splits into two fingers. It’s like a "peace" sign made of water. On the left is the Gulf of Suez, which leads into the Suez Canal. On the right is the Gulf of Aqaba. Between them sits the Sinai Peninsula, a piece of land that has seen more history and conflict than almost anywhere else on the planet.
Why the Location Matters More Than You Think
Geography isn't just about coordinates. The location of the Red Sea is a geopolitical nightmare and a diver's paradise all at once. Because it's almost entirely enclosed, the water is incredibly salty. It’s one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world. Why? High evaporation and almost zero rainfall. There are no major rivers flowing into it to bring in fresh water.
This creates a unique ecosystem.
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The Red Sea is home to over 1,200 species of fish. About 10% of those can’t be found anywhere else on Earth. If you’re a diver, the location is everything. Places like Ras Mohammed in Egypt or the untouched reefs of Saudi Arabia offer visibility that’s almost scary. You can see 40 meters down like it’s glass.
But then there's the trade aspect.
Because the Red Sea is the gateway to the Suez Canal, it’s a chokepoint. If you block that tiny Bab el-Mandeb strait at the bottom (which is only about 18 miles wide at its narrowest point), the global economy starts to sweat. We saw this with the Ever Given ship getting stuck, and we see it with modern maritime security issues. Its location makes it one of the most strategic pieces of water in human history.
The Northern Gates: Suez and Aqaba
Most people asking where is the Red Sea located on a map are actually looking for the northern hubs. Egypt owns the lion's share of the tourist interest here. The Gulf of Suez is mostly industrial, cluttered with oil rigs and massive cargo ships waiting their turn to head to Europe. It's not where you go for a vacation.
The Gulf of Aqaba is different.
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This is where Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia all huddle together. You can stand on a beach in Eilat, Israel, and see the mountains of Jordan and the coastline of Saudi Arabia with your naked eye. It’s a tiny pocket of the world where borders feel very real and very close. Jordan’s only access to the sea is right here at the port of Aqaba. Without this specific geographical "finger" of the Red Sea, Jordan would be entirely landlocked.
The Southern End: The Gate of Tears
At the southern tip, things get wilder. The Bab el-Mandeb (which translates to "Gate of Tears") connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. It separates Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula from Djibouti and Eritrea in Africa.
It’s a rough neighborhood.
Currents here are strong, and the wind can be brutal. Historically, sailors feared this passage. Today, it’s a high-stakes zone for international navies. When you look at the map, you realize that if this tiny gap closes, the entire Red Sea becomes a giant, salty lake with no exit to the south.
Surprising Facts About the Red Sea's Geography
It’s deeper than it looks. While some areas are shallow coral gardens, the central trench reaches depths of over 2,200 meters (about 7,200 feet). That’s a massive drop-off just a few miles from the shore.
- The Red Sea isn't actually red. Most of the time, it's an intense, piercing blue. The name likely comes from seasonal blooms of a red-colored algae called Trichodesmium erythraeum. When these die off, they turn the water a reddish-brown hue.
- It’s getting wider. As mentioned, the plates are moving. It grows by about 1 to 2 centimeters every year. It’s a slow-motion birth of an ocean.
- The water is warm. Like, really warm. Even in the deep parts, the water temperature rarely drops below 20°C (68°F). In the summer, the surface can feel like bathwater.
How to Get There and See It for Yourself
If you're planning to visit based on its map location, you have several distinct "vibes" to choose from.
Egypt is the classic choice. Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada are the big names. They are easy to get to and have massive infrastructure. If you want something a bit more rugged and "old school" diver, Dahab is the spot. It’s further north on the Sinai Peninsula.
Saudi Arabia is the new frontier. For decades, it was nearly impossible to visit the Red Sea from the eastern side unless you were a resident or on business. Now, with the "Red Sea Global" project and new tourist visas, they are opening up some of the most pristine coral reefs in the world. It’s basically the Red Sea as it looked 50 years ago before the crowds arrived.
Jordan and Israel offer small but high-quality windows into the sea. Aqaba and Eilat are literally side-by-side. You can cross the border on foot, though it’s a bit of a process.
Navigation and Planning Your Trip
Understanding the location helps you pack. If you're heading to the northern end in the winter, it actually gets chilly. The desert wind is no joke. But the southern end near Djibouti stays hot and humid year-round.
Most travelers fly into Cairo and take a domestic flight to the coast, or fly directly into regional airports like RMF (Marsa Alam) or SSH (Sharm El Sheikh).
Actionable Next Steps for the Curious Traveler:
- Check the Season: If you want to see hammerhead sharks, go between June and September, even though it's boiling hot on land. For comfortable weather, October through April is king.
- Visa Requirements: Don't assume. Egypt offers visas on arrival for many, but Jordan and Saudi Arabia have their own e-visa systems that you should handle at least a week before flying.
- Respect the Reef: The Red Sea’s location in a hot, arid zone makes the reefs fragile. Use reef-safe sunscreen. The salt content is high, so you’ll be more buoyant than usual—be careful not to kick the coral.
- Local Geography: If you are in Egypt, remember that "The Red Sea" is also the name of a massive administrative governorate. If you book a bus to "Red Sea," make sure you know which city you're actually heading to, as the coastline is hundreds of miles long.
The Red Sea is a massive, living geographical feature that connects the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean through a series of man-made and natural channels. It's a place where the desert literally falls into the ocean. Whether you are looking at it on a map for a geography quiz or planning a bucket-list dive trip, understanding its position as a bridge between Africa and Asia is the key to grasping why it's so vital to our world.