When the Sinai Peninsula was returned to Egypt, Ras Muhammad was declared for protection from fishing and other human activities. Some of the fishing methods, such as using dynamite and knives were also impacting on the coral reef and the fish populations. In 1983, the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) established the area as a marine reserve for the protection of marine and terrestrial wildlife. The park was also established to protect against urban sprawl from Sharm El Sheikh and other coastal development.[2] The name literally means "Mohammad's Head", where "head" in this instance means "headland". It is said in the area that the name arose because in side view the contour of the cliff looks like the profile of a bearded man's face, with horizontal hard strata providing the nose and bearded chin.
Geography
The park is situated in the tourist region of the Red Sea Riviera, located 12 km from the city of Sharm El Sheikh. The park spans an area of 480 km2, including 135 km2 of surface land area and 345 km2 area over water.[3] Marsa Bareika is a small bay inlet in Ras Mohammed, and Marsa Ghozlani is a very small inlet located across from the park visitors center.
Winch parts visible on the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm, which sank off the coast of Ras Muhammad
Ras Mohammad encompasses two islands, Tiran and Sanafir. Tiran Island is located approximately 6 km offshore from the Sinai Peninsula.[4] Underwater caves formed as the result of earthquakes are located in Ras Mohammad.
Ras Mohammad National Park
About 0.9 hectare of mangrove forest cover a 1.16 km shallow channel at the southernmost end of Ras Mohammad peninsula. Near the mangrove and approximately 150 m inland, there are open cracks in the land, caused by earthquakes. One of the cracks is approximately 40 m length and 0.20−1.5 m in width. Within the cracks, there are pools of water, some with a depth of over 14 m.[5]
The inland area includes a diversity of deserthabitats such as mountains and wadis, gravel and coastal mud plains and sand dunes. The area also plays a role in bird migration, serving as a place of rest and nourishment.
Climate
Ras Mohammad National Park experiences a very dry climate, with only minimal rainfall during the winter. During the summer, temperatures often exceed 40 °C (104 °F) and low temperatures around 27 °C (81 °F). Temperatures are mild during the winter, with daytime high temperatures averaging around 23 °C (73 °F) and low temperatures 14 °C (56 °F).[6][7]
Ecology
Coral reef, of the fringing and hermatypic types, exist along the coast around Ras Mohammad close to the shoreline.[8] More than 220 species of coral are found in the Ras Mohammad area, 125 of them soft coral. The coral reefs are located 50 to 100 m below the sea surface, and they have a width of 30 to 50 m in most places. Though in some spots on the western coast, the coral reef is 8 to 9 km wide.[9] Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef are popular areas of coral reef in the park for divers. Other coral reef sites include South Bereika, Marsa Ghozlani, Old Quay, and Shark Observatory.[10] The wreckage of the SS Thistlegorm, located off the coast of Ras Mohammad, is a popular area for divers.
The area is home to more than 1,000 species of fish, 40 species of star fish, 25 species of sea urchins, more than a 100 species of mollusc and 150 species of crustaceans. Among others, sea turtles, such as the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) appear regularly in Ras Mohammad.
On the Ras Mohammad peninsula, there are acacia trees and dum palms (Hyphaene thebaica) around the wadi mouths. Ephemeral herbs and grasses also exist in Ras Muhammad.[11]
^Al-Mukhtar, Rima (23 November 2012). "Sharm El-Sheikh, city of peace". Arab News. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
^Ibrahim, Fouad N. (2011). Egypt: An Economic Geography. I. B. Tauris & Company. p. 194.
^"محميات جنوب سيناء (Reserves of South Sinai)" (.doc) (in Arabic). Egypt Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs. 2006-05-08. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
^المحميات الطبيعية (in Arabic). Egypt Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs. 2006-05-08. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
^Por, F.D. & M. Tsurnamal (1973-01-05). "Ecology of the Ras Muhammad Crack in Sinai". Nature. 241 (5384): 43–44. Bibcode:1973Natur.241...43P. doi:10.1038/241043b0. S2CID 4159406.
^"Sharm El Sheikh to Hurghada". TourEgypt. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
muhammad, national, park, mohammad, egyptian, arabic, راس, محمد, rās, maḥammad, ɾɑːs, mæˈħæmmæd, arabic, رأس, محمد, raʼs, muḥammad, national, park, egypt, southern, extreme, sinai, peninsula, overlooking, gulf, suez, west, gulf, aqaba, east, mohammed, national. Ras Mohammad Egyptian Arabic راس محمد Ras Maḥammad IPA ɾɑːs maeˈħaemmaed Arabic رأس محمد Raʼs Muḥammad is a national park in Egypt at the southern extreme of the Sinai Peninsula overlooking the Gulf of Suez on the west and the Gulf of Aqaba to the east 1 Ras Mohammed National ParkPark entrance featureShow map of SinaiShow map of EgyptNearest citySharm El SheikhCoordinates27 43 20 N 34 15 14 E 27 72222 N 34 25389 E 27 72222 34 25389 Coordinates 27 43 20 N 34 15 14 E 27 72222 N 34 25389 E 27 72222 34 25389Area480 km2Established1983www sharm city comGate of Allah designed and installed by Egyptian engineers in 1973 View of coral reef in Ras Mohammad 2004 Contents 1 History 2 Geography 3 Climate 4 Ecology 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory EditWhen the Sinai Peninsula was returned to Egypt Ras Muhammad was declared for protection from fishing and other human activities Some of the fishing methods such as using dynamite and knives were also impacting on the coral reef and the fish populations In 1983 the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency EEAA established the area as a marine reserve for the protection of marine and terrestrial wildlife The park was also established to protect against urban sprawl from Sharm El Sheikh and other coastal development 2 The name literally means Mohammad s Head where head in this instance means headland It is said in the area that the name arose because in side view the contour of the cliff looks like the profile of a bearded man s face with horizontal hard strata providing the nose and bearded chin Geography EditThe park is situated in the tourist region of the Red Sea Riviera located 12 km from the city of Sharm El Sheikh The park spans an area of 480 km2 including 135 km2 of surface land area and 345 km2 area over water 3 Marsa Bareika is a small bay inlet in Ras Mohammed and Marsa Ghozlani is a very small inlet located across from the park visitors center Winch parts visible on the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm which sank off the coast of Ras Muhammad Ras Mohammad encompasses two islands Tiran and Sanafir Tiran Island is located approximately 6 km offshore from the Sinai Peninsula 4 Underwater caves formed as the result of earthquakes are located in Ras Mohammad Ras Mohammad National Park About 0 9 hectare of mangrove forest cover a 1 16 km shallow channel at the southernmost end of Ras Mohammad peninsula Near the mangrove and approximately 150 m inland there are open cracks in the land caused by earthquakes One of the cracks is approximately 40 m length and 0 20 1 5 m in width Within the cracks there are pools of water some with a depth of over 14 m 5 The inland area includes a diversity of desert habitats such as mountains and wadis gravel and coastal mud plains and sand dunes The area also plays a role in bird migration serving as a place of rest and nourishment Climate EditRas Mohammad National Park experiences a very dry climate with only minimal rainfall during the winter During the summer temperatures often exceed 40 C 104 F and low temperatures around 27 C 81 F Temperatures are mild during the winter with daytime high temperatures averaging around 23 C 73 F and low temperatures 14 C 56 F 6 7 Ecology EditCoral reef of the fringing and hermatypic types exist along the coast around Ras Mohammad close to the shoreline 8 More than 220 species of coral are found in the Ras Mohammad area 125 of them soft coral The coral reefs are located 50 to 100 m below the sea surface and they have a width of 30 to 50 m in most places Though in some spots on the western coast the coral reef is 8 to 9 km wide 9 Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef are popular areas of coral reef in the park for divers Other coral reef sites include South Bereika Marsa Ghozlani Old Quay and Shark Observatory 10 The wreckage of the SS Thistlegorm located off the coast of Ras Mohammad is a popular area for divers The area is home to more than 1 000 species of fish 40 species of star fish 25 species of sea urchins more than a 100 species of mollusc and 150 species of crustaceans Among others sea turtles such as the green turtle Chelonia mydas and the hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata appear regularly in Ras Mohammad On the Ras Mohammad peninsula there are acacia trees and dum palms Hyphaene thebaica around the wadi mouths Ephemeral herbs and grasses also exist in Ras Muhammad 11 See also EditRas Sedr Dahab Taba Nuweiba Sharm el Sheikh List of cities and towns in EgyptReferences Edit Al Mukhtar Rima 23 November 2012 Sharm El Sheikh city of peace Arab News Retrieved 23 May 2018 Ibrahim Fouad N 2011 Egypt An Economic Geography I B Tauris amp Company p 194 محميات جنوب سيناء Reserves of South Sinai doc in Arabic Egypt Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs 2006 05 08 Retrieved 2008 06 30 المحميات الطبيعية in Arabic Egypt Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs 2006 05 08 Retrieved 2008 06 30 Por F D amp M Tsurnamal 1973 01 05 Ecology of the Ras Muhammad Crack in Sinai Nature 241 5384 43 44 Bibcode 1973Natur 241 43P doi 10 1038 241043b0 S2CID 4159406 Sharm El Sheikh to Hurghada TourEgypt Retrieved 2008 06 30 Seasonal Weather Averages Weather Underground Retrieved 2008 06 30 Fishelson L 1980 Marine Reserves along the Sinai Peninsula Helgolander Meeresunters 33 624 640 doi 10 1007 BF02414785 Nir Dov January 1971 Marine Terraces of Southern Sinai Geographical Review American Geographical Society 61 1 32 50 doi 10 2307 213366 JSTOR 213366 Monitoring Program report Ras Mohammed National Park PDF University of Essex Operation Wallacea 2005 Archived from the original PDF on 2008 10 11 Retrieved 2008 07 09 Ibrahim Fouad N 2003 Egypt An Economic Geography I B Tauris amp Company p 54 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ras Muhammad Diving Ras Muhammad Descriptions pictures and videos of some Ras Muhammad dive spots Snorkeling area in Ras Mohammad Mangroves in Ras Mohammad National ParkMinistry of Environment Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency Natural Protectorates Description Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ras Muhammad National Park amp oldid 1138540386, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
