The Red Sea separates Saudi Arabia from the northeast coast of Africa. It lies between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and connects to the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal, while its southern opening leads toward the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
The sea is a young oceanic basin formed by the separation of the African and Arabian tectonic plates. The process continues today along the Red Sea Rift. Its narrow shape, warm waters, and high evaporation produce unusually salty conditions in many areas.
The Red Sea is famous for coral reefs and marine biodiversity, including extensive reef systems along the Egyptian, Sudanese, Eritrean, Saudi, and Yemeni coasts. Its name may refer to seasonal reddish algae, nearby red-hued mountains, or ancient geographical naming traditions; no single explanation is universally accepted. The sea has also been a major shipping route since the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869.