Gulf of Suez

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Gulf of Suez

Visible bodies are the Gulf of Suez (west, left in

photo), the Gulf of Aqaba (east, right in photo), and
the Red Sea (south, bottom left in photo). Photo dated
February 2009.

Location
Coordinates

Max. length
Max. width
Average depth
Max. depth

Egypt
2845N 3300ECoordinates:
2845N 3300E
314 km (195 mi)
32 km (20 mi)
40 m (130 ft)
70 m (230 ft)

Northernmost part of Gulf of Suez with town Suez on the map of 1856
The northern end of the Red Sea bifurcates into the Sinai Peninsula, creating the Gulf of
Suez (Arabic: ; transliterated: khal as-suwais; formerly: , transliterated:
baar al-qulzum) in the west and the Gulf of Aqaba to the east. The gulf was formed within a
relatively young but now inactive Gulf of Suez Rift rift basin, dating back about 28 million
years.[1] It stretches some 300 kilometres (190 mi) north by northwest, terminating at the
Egyptian city of Suez and the entrance to the Suez Canal. Along the mid-line of the gulf is
the boundary between Africa and Asia.[2] The entrance of the gulf lies atop the mature Gemsa
oil and gas field.[3]

Contents

1 Geography
o 1.1 Extent
2 Geology
3 Ecology
4 References
5 External links

Geography
The gulf occupies the northwestern arm of the Red Sea between Africa and the Sinai
Peninsula. It is the third arm of the triple junction rift system, the second arm being the Gulf
of Aqaba.
The length of the gulf, from its mouth at the Strait of Jubal to its head at the city of Suez, is
195 miles (314 km), and it varies in width from 12 to 20 miles (19 to 32 km).

Extent
The International Hydrographic Organization defines the southern limit of the gulf as "A line
running from Ras Muhammed (2743'N) to the South point of Shadwan Island (3402'E) and
thence Westward on a parallel (2727'N) to the coast of Africa".[4]

Geology
Main article: Gulf of Suez Rift
The gulf sedimentary basin stratigraphic section consists of prerift Paleozoic to Oligocene
clastic rocks and carbonates, and synrift and postrift Miocene to Holocene clastics and
evaporites.[5]:236 Three large oil fields are in the gulf: the El Morgan discovered in 1964,
Belayim discovered in 1955, and the October Field discovered in 1977.[5]:238 The October
Field produces from the Cretaceous Nubia Formation, the Upper Cretaceous Nezzazat
Formation, the Miocene Nukhul Formation, and the Miocene Asl Member of the Upper
Rudeis Formation.[5]:236