Facts about Sharm El-Sheikh Reefs
- 09
Nocturnal planktivorous fish in Sharm El-Sheikh Reefs undergo vertical migrations of up to 200 meters daily, following zooplankton blooms that fuel the reef's food web.
- 08
In 2010, researchers identified over 250 fish species within the shallow lagoons of Sharm El-Sheikh Reefs, making them among the most species-dense shallow-water ecosystems in the Red Sea.
- 07
Sharm El-Sheikh Reefs experience water temperatures ranging from 21°C in winter to 28°C in summer, with seasonal variations influencing fish migration patterns and breeding cycles throughout the year.
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Ras Mohammed National Park, encompassing Sharm El-Sheikh Reefs, protects 480 square kilometers of marine habitat and was Egypt's first designated marine protected area in 1983.
- 05
Between 1994 and 2010, coral bleaching events caused by elevated water temperatures destroyed approximately 30 percent of hard coral colonies in Sharm El-Sheikh Reefs.
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Strong currents in Sharm El-Sheikh Reefs can reach speeds of 2-3 knots, creating nutrient-rich conditions that sustain the region's exceptional marine biodiversity.
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Approximately 800 meters of coral reef stretches along Sharm El-Sheikh's coastline, providing critical spawning grounds for commercially important fish species throughout the Red Sea region.
- 02
Diving tourism in Sharm El-Sheikh generates approximately 30 percent of Egypt's total marine tourism revenue annually.
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The Sharm El-Sheikh Reefs support over 1,200 fish species and 400 coral species across their protected marine reserve established in 1992.