Ras Mohammed National Park, where Sinai meets the sea

Ras Mohammed National Park at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula is Egypt’s first national park, a protected corner of desert and sea where headland cliffs drop into dense coral reefs along the Red Sea coast.

Desert headland between two gulfs

Ras Mohammed National Park occupies a headland at the extreme south of Sinai, with the Gulf of Suez on one side and the Gulf of Aqaba on the other, at the northern end of the Red Sea.southern extreme of the Sinai Peninsula The protected area lies within Egypt’s South Sinai Governorate and sits south of the resort city of Scharm asch-Schaich, which serves as the main gateway for visitors arriving by land or sea.directly neighbouring Scharm asch-Schaich

The national park covers around 480 km² (185 sq mi) of land and sea, a mosaic of coastal shallows and deeper waters along with desert terrain.approximately 480 square kilometres Much of this area is marine, protecting reef systems and coastal habitats, while the terrestrial portion includes rocky flats, low hills and cliffs formed from ancient uplifted coral formations. Tiran and Sanafir islands, lying off the Gulf of Aqaba, were historically included within the protected area boundary during the park’s early years.extends into the Gulf of Aqaba to encompass Tiran and Sanafir

From fossil coral cliffs to mangrove channels

The striking landforms at Ras Mohammed National Park are largely built from uplifted fossil coral reefs, creating pale cliffs that rise from the shoreline and break into bays, inlets and small beaches along the headland.headland composed largely of uplifted fossil coral reefs These cliffs overlook fringing coral reef systems that run close to the surface of the water, making the transition from dry rock to marine habitat unusually abrupt. The contrast between dry desert rock and submerged reef is one of the park’s most visible characteristics along its shore.

Behind and between the cliffs, Ras Mohammed National Park includes coastal ecosystems such as mangrove stands, salt marshes, mud flats and shallow lagoons that sit along the meeting line of desert and sea.mangrove stands, salt marshes and mud flats Narrow channels cut into the shoreline host mangroves adapted to the saline environment, while low-lying flats flood with seawater and then dry, leaving patterns of salt and sediment on the ground. Inland, the terrain turns to arid plains and low ridges, with sparse desert vegetation and views across the water towards the gulfs on either side of the headland.

Egypt’s first national park and marine reserve

Ras Mohammed National Park was formally declared in 1983 as Egypt’s first national park, with a focus on protecting both terrestrial desert landscapes and the surrounding marine environment of the northern Red Sea.established in 1983 as the first national park in Egypt The protected status applies to an area where shallow waters of the Gulf of Suez to the west meet the deeper trench of the Gulf of Aqaba to the east, creating conditions that support varied reef structures and marine life. Large sections of the marine zone, amounting to hundreds of square kilometres, are designated as strict protection areas with no fishing.

The park’s coastal reefs form part of the broader Red Sea reef system, which is known for high coral diversity and clear water. Ras Mohammed National Park’s marine section covers more than 300 km² of sea, including fringing and barrier reefs that descend from shallow platforms into deeper blue water.over 340 km² of seas are completely no-take Combined with the desert headland, these reefs and coastal habitats form a compact protected landscape in which arid land and marine ecosystems lie within short distances of one another.

Visiting Ras Mohammed National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Ras Mohammed National Park lies south of Scharm asch-Schaich, at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula between the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba, and is reached either overland from the resort city or by boat along the Red Sea coast.
• The terrain within the park includes rocky desert ground, fossil coral cliffs and uneven coastal paths, so access to viewpoints and shore areas can involve walking over rough surfaces and using stairways cut into the rock.
• The national park is in Egypt; the official language is Arabic and the currency is the Egyptian pound.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Ras Mohammed National Park

Where is Ras Mohammed National Park?

Ras Mohammed National Park is in Egypt’s South Sinai Governorate at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, south of Scharm asch-Schaich between the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba.

What can visitors expect from the landscape?

Visitors encounter desert terrain built from uplifted fossil coral cliffs, small bays and beaches, mangrove-lined channels and extensive coral reef systems lying close to the shoreline along the Red Sea.

What makes Ras Mohammed National Park distinctive?

The park combines Egypt’s first national park designation with a compact protected area where arid desert headland, coastal ecosystems and Red Sea coral reefs lie side by side at the meeting of two gulfs.