What attracts tourists to the Sinai Peninsula. Regions of Egypt: Sinai Peninsula

Sinai peninsula- the place is absolutely unique and amazing in every way. You can even start with geographical location: Sinai - the border between Asia and Africa, the peninsula itself is considered part of the Asian continent. Its nature is also unique - the mountainous and desert regions of Sinai are almost not inhabited, which means that the flora and fauna have been preserved in an absolutely original form. I haven't heard about coral reefs and diving in local waters, perhaps only lazy. Well, of course, the historical and cultural role of these places for all mankind is extremely important. After all, it was here that the people of Israel wandered with Moses, and immediately the prophet received a divine revelation.

How to get to the Sinai Peninsula

The largest air hub in the Sinai is located in Sharm el-Sheikh, whose international Airport receives hundreds of flights a week from all over the world.

Directly on the peninsula, it is most convenient to travel as part of excursion group. As an option - on buses, but it is better to take tickets for the 1st class and for the so-called tourist buses, and not municipal ones, since they go for a long time, they almost do not follow the schedules, and in general their appearance leaves much to be desired.

Popular hotels in Sinai Peninsula

Entertainment and attractions

Of course, the Sinai Peninsula, like the whole of Egypt, is known largely due to beautiful beaches, comfortable hotels, a fairly good level of service, and, most importantly - warm sea where underwater life is literally seething. It seems that this is some kind of compensation for the picturesque in its own way, but at the same time the monotonous nature of the land. However, despite the appearance of the desert, there is something to see. In the Sinai there are as many as three national parks- Ras Abu Galum, Nabq and Ras Mohammed. The latter, for example, is a reserve, which simultaneously includes 5 ecosystems!

Another amazing natural monument The Sinai Peninsula are considered to be its hot springs. The most famous of them are the Springs of Moses. They arose at that legendary time when Moses led the Jews out of Egyptian slavery. Having passed along the bottom of the Red Sea, they were exhausted, many were tormented by thirst. Then the prophet struck several times with his staff on the ground, and immediately water gushed out of the ground.

To the south of the Springs of Moses, at a distance of about 100 km, there are other thermal baths - the Pharaoh's baths and the Moses' baths.

Another unique attraction of the Sinai Peninsula can be called Colored Canyon. It is located just an hour from popular resort Nuweiba. What is a place with such an intriguing name? The canyon stretches for about 700 m in length, and the height of the gorge sometimes reaches up to 100 m. This place will be very interesting for those who have dreamed of being on the moon all their adult lives.

Of course, the main historical attraction of the peninsula is St. Catherine's Monastery. Its appearance is associated with the name of the Byzantine emperor Constantine the Great and his mother Helena. In 330, a small church was built in Sinai, as well as a fortification so that the monks could survive the raids of the nomads. The life of the first inhabitants of the monastery was not easy: they spent the night in caves, earned their own food and prayed earnestly. In addition, the monks were active in missionary activities and over several centuries they managed to convert a significant part of the inhabitants of the Sinai Peninsula to Christianity.

The peninsula is surrounded by the Gulf of Suez, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. All northern part The peninsula is occupied by desert. The mountains in the southern part have a green, blue and red tint. According to legend, God spoke to Moses right in this place.

The Sinai Peninsula is famous for its great "silk" way . Caravans from the Far East followed it to Egypt. This area is famous for its hot springs, which are located along its west bank. Famous among tourists "Sources of Moses" or in another way Uyun Musa.

Thanks to unique coral reefs South coast The Sinai Peninsula has become a place of pilgrimage for divers from all over the world.

Civilization almost did not touch this desert, the main population here are the Bedouins, who are gradually moving to a settled way of life, growing date palms and raise goats.

The Bedouins strictly adhere to their traditions, one of which is hospitality, thanks to which tourists, accompanied by them as guides, visit the desert.

The Sinai Peninsula is rich in minerals, including oil, and the fauna of the peninsula is represented by wolves and foxes, hyenas and antelopes, eagles conquered the sky, and tourists :).

In the south, in the corner of the triangle, the landscape is similar to the moon. It is dominated by granite rocks, the peaked mountains of Moses, St. Catherine, and others, where the Jews followed Moses 33 centuries ago.

The Mediterranean coast of Egypt in the north is beautiful sandy beaches, stretching from to Mersa Matruh.

Unfortunately, there is reason to believe that the peninsula will not be a pearl for so long. Corals are gradually dying out, and tourists themselves are one of the reasons. It turns out that jeeps do the most harm, destroying a thin layer of lichens in the desert, as a result of which, during sandstorms, much more sand raised by them is deposited in the sea, the pores of corals become clogged and they die.

Damage to corals and a gradual increase in sea temperature and the acidity of the water itself.

In the south of the Sinai Peninsula, one of the most famous Egyptian resorts is located -. Here are well-known tourist resorts, Nuweiba and.

Since y with Egypt, then Russian tourist you only need a passport, where a visa stamp will be pasted at the airport, it allows you to stay in the country for a month.

Sights and excursions of the Sinai Peninsula.

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It was founded in 330, after the Byzantine emperor Constantine recognized Christianity and allowed Christians to found monasteries. It is the oldest active Christian monastery. The first monks were real righteous, apparently due to this, by the time of the conquest by the Arabs in the 7th century, most of the local tribes had become Christians. The monastery is located in a gorge between the mountains of Moses, Safsaf and Katharina at a level of 1570 m.

The so-called "Burning bush" grows in the monastery, it is believed that in the flame that engulfed this bush, Moses saw God for the first time. The monastery has more than 2,000 icons, and the local religious library is second only to the Vatican.

Near the monastery is (another name is the mountain of Moses). The summit reaches 2285 meters.

It so happened that many hundreds of tourists go to the mountain every day, most of whom come from Sharm el-Sheikh, since it is more convenient for a trip here. Usually everyone walks at night along the trail of 3400 steps, but this tradition is not of Christianity, but rather of the tourism industry, thanks to the spectacular sunrise. You can, of course, ride a camel, but such an excursion requires good nerves.

It must be borne in mind that the ascent is made at night along a long path, and the descent during the day along a low one, and the descent is also quite difficult.

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This national park located in the south of the Sinai Peninsula. It combines 5 ecosystems: desert, coast, lagoon, corals and the sea itself. The park is strictly guarded, the construction of hotels is prohibited, and only a small part is allowed to visit tourists, but it is worth it. It's pretty here interesting island mangrove trees, and next to it is a real bird world with storks, herons, falcons, etc.

Here famous beach Main Beach with bright red corals, of which there are about 150 species, and, of course, the richest underwater world.

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The largest Sinai park with an area of ​​​​600 km 2. Located 35 km from Sharm El Sheikh. It is famous for the abundance of flora, there are about 130 species of plants.

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Located between Dahab and Nuweiba. famous beautiful scenery and luxurious nature due to the presence of fresh springs here.

Located an hour from Nuweiba. It is assumed that this is the former bed of a dry river that cut through local breeds to a depth of hundreds of meters. It is famous for its "lunar" landscapes and bizarre play of colors and shapes. Must-see for the tourist.

Hot Springs.

Located along the coast near the road to Sharm el-Sheikh. The most famous is the "Source of Moses", it is believed that it appeared due to a blow with the staff of Moses to give water to the Jews who fled from Egypt and crossed the sea in this place.

The rock island, which was once a frontier post since the time of the pharaohs, and the famous Saladin built a citadel here in the 12th century, for the sake of which (and the museum) tourists come here.

Climate of the Sinai Peninsula.

The peninsula itself is, in fact, a tropical desert, and the climate is appropriate. The north of the peninsula adjoins the Mediterranean Sea, which moderates the climate of this area. Rains are extremely rare, there are whole years without precipitation, especially in the southern part, locked from rare northern cyclones by mountains.

In summer, the temperature often reaches 40 degrees, or even more, in winter in the desert there are even frosts in winter, except for the south adjacent to the Red Sea.

It is best for a tourist to go to the Sinai Peninsula from the second half of September to the end of October and in spring in April - the most comfortable temperature for relax.

A little .

The ancient Egyptians were familiar with the Sinai Peninsula as far back as the First Dynasty. From 1260 to 1518, the Mamluks of Egypt dominated here, and then until the last century it belonged to the Ottoman Empire.

In 1916, the British occupied the peninsula, and they also drew the current border with Israel.

In 1948, the Egyptians attacked Israel through the Sinai Peninsula, but to no avail, and in 1956 the Suez Crisis arose, England, France and Israel tried to seize the Suez Canal, but thanks to US pressure and Soviet Union were forced to leave.

In 1967, Israel occupies Suez, in 1973 Egypt makes an unsuccessful attempt to return the Suez Canal, and finally in 1979, as a result of a peace treaty, the Sinai Peninsula is gradually returned to Egypt until 1982.

Information for tourists on the Sinai Peninsula.

• International Sharm El Sheikh airport located near Ras Nasrani, you can fly scheduled airlines Egyptair from Moscow, St. Petersburg, a ticket costs about 461 dollars, fly 4 hours or numerous charter flights.
• Tipping in Egypt is practically obligatory, here they are called baksheesh, they are given to everyone who provides any services: maids, porters, guides, waiters. Usually they give 1-2 pounds, it is no longer recommended, otherwise a queue of the afflicted will line up for the tourist.
• Egypt is a secular country, but we must remember the Muslim population, which will be offended outside the tourist zones at the sight of open shoulders, tourist shorts.
• When photographing someone, first find out if this person is against it, and photographing a woman can be paid. In addition, military installations and other strategic places such as dams, bridges are also prohibited from filming.
• In Egypt, you can bring no more than a liter of alcohol, but in Nyama Bay on Shamadura Street, a tourist can buy duty-free 4 liters in a duty free shop.

It is washed by the Red and Mediterranean Seas and is located in the region of the border between Africa and Asia. Historically, it has been attributed to Asia.

Geography

The peninsula is wedge-shaped, pointed to the south, from the northern part it is limited by the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, although such an interpretation of its boundaries is disputed. According to another version, its border is the line between the northern outskirts of the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba.

The western part of the peninsula is washed by the Gulf of Suez, the eastern - by the Gulf of Aqaba. The size of the territory of the peninsula is set within 25 - 61 thousand square kilometers, such a difference in estimating the size is due to the fact that the boundaries of the peninsula are very conditional and depend on the methodology used in the calculation.

The south of the peninsula is characterized Mountain landscape(Mount St. Catherine is the most high point Sinai, 2637 meters above sea level), almost the rest of the peninsula is covered with desert, but the peninsula is not at all lifeless, the coastal fauna is very rich here. Apart from developing tourism, oil deposits have been discovered on its territory and turquoise mining has been developed.

Climate

The climate is mostly tropical desert, with the exception of the territory bordering mediterranean sea, - it is characterized by a milder Mediterranean type of climate. However, the climate of the peninsula is considered to be very arid, in the southern part, the mountains block the way for the already rare cyclones coming from the north, so the region receives very little or no precipitation at all. At the same time, the temperature reaches 40 degrees Celsius or more in the shade, but frosts are possible at night, especially in the desert. In winter temperatures are lower. The most favorable climate warm winters recorded in the south of the peninsula, heated by the Red Sea.

Tourism

Nowadays, Sinai is one of the centers of tourism in Egypt. The city is the capital of the peninsula and its main resort. In terms of the number of tourists received, the Sinai Peninsula can compete for primacy with the Red Sea region, led by the resort.

The second most important resort in Sinai is - this is a place with constant winds, and lovers love to come here. aquatic species sports. Third famous resort- a city loved by fans sightseeing holiday, because from here you can easily and quickly get to the sights of Israel and Jordan. Another small resort in Sitai - a city. Near the resort of Taba across the border is a popular Israeli resort, which is sometimes also referred to as the Sinai Peninsula.

The Sinai Peninsula boasts several interesting sights. Here are where, according to the scripture, the prophet received the tablets about God; , where the Burning Bush grows, a reserve and a unique natural formation -.

There is a special entry regime for visitors to the Sinai Peninsula, when tourists do not need a full-fledged one, but simply put a "Sinai stamp".

Ecology

Environmental problems in Lately are very sharp on the peninsula. External factors such as: tourism, fishing, urbanization of the coast, have a negative impact primarily on marine life. Corals are dying due to clogging of pores, vandalism by tourists, changes in the acidity of the water and rising temperatures, scientists predict the death of most of the reefs in the very near future.

Sand brought from the desert and lifted from the bottom by tourists when diving to the bottom clogs the pores of the coral and it dies. Off-road vehicles, when driving through the desert, destroy the already thin fruitful layer, consisting of lichens and stones, which leads to soil erosion, which, in turn, is the cause of more frequent sandstorms bringing sand into the sea.

All this, coupled with the negative impact of the greenhouse effect and global warming, can lead to an environmental disaster. Temperature increase sea ​​water, causes the coral to expel the algae and subsequently starve to death. Feeding reef dwellers by tourists leads to a change in their diet, and as a result of population development starfish for which corals are the main food. Violation of the ecological balance due to external factors leads to a change in populations and the death of many species.

The conducted studies confirm that the territory of the Nabek reserve is the most littered. The source of this garbage is not only tourists, but also local Bedouins who arrange dumps and trap shellfish in protected areas apparently unaware of the consequences of their actions. Environmental education in the country is not developing, as the main forces are thrown into the development of tourism for profit.

Exodus of anatomically modern humans from Africa

S. Oppenheimer, a pediatrician from the UK, hypothesized that 120 thousand years ago, representatives of Homo sapiens made an exodus from Africa to the Levant region, and it was through the Sinai Peninsula. However, the progenitors modern people, could not survive due to the onset of the ice age.

Nevertheless, non-African peoples descended from representatives of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait about 80 thousand years ago, some of whom subsequently returned to North Africa, through the Sinai Peninsula.

German scientists from the University of Tübingen hypothesize that the origin modern man happened in two waves. The first wave, which became the ancestors for australian aboriginal, Papuans and Melanesians, passed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait about 130 thousand years ago, and the ancestors of the inhabitants of other Asian populations became the descendants of the second wave, 50 thousand years ago, that left Africa in the region north of the Red Sea.