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Giftun EarthCache

Hidden : 9/9/2010
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
5 out of 5

Size: Size:   other (other)

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Geocache Description:

National Park of Giftun Island in the Red Sea as an environmentally friendly eco-tourist destination, the first of its kind in Egypt.


A romantic snorkeling trip with desert island relaxation on the beautiful red sea, where we will do our snorkeling in different spots which are full of corals and magnificent colorful fish with a chance to swim with dolphins, enjoying the water sports activities - that is Giftun, island in Red Sea.

 

The marine biology of the Giftun area is of the richest and most varied in the whole world. Beautifully coloured coral gardens bursting with life, all the fishes of the Red Sea, some incredible seasonal sights, like schools of Hammerheads dancing around in spring and summer, Grey Tip Reef Sharks mating in the winter. Maybe you can see dolphins...

The Red Sea is a seawater and lying between Africa and Asia. Has a surface area of roughly 438,000 km2 (169,100 square miles ). It is about 2250 km (1398 miles) long and, at its widest point, is 355 km (220.6 miles) wide. It has a maximum depth of 2211 metres (7254 feet) in the central median trench, and an average depth of 490 metres (1,608 feet). However, there are also extensive shallow shelves, noted for their marine life and corals. The sea is the habitat of over 1,000 invertebrate species, and 200 soft and hard corals. It is the world's northernmost tropical sea.

Geology

The geology of the Red Sea is relatively young and is still forming by the process of continental drift, as the African plate and Arabian plate split apart. Saudi Arabia is drifting away from Africa at a rate of 1-2 cms per year. The rocks being formed now are somewhat similar to rocks that were formed when the Americas split away from Africa and Europe 165 million years ago. Think what the diving must have been like then.

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To log this EarthCache please answer via profile to this questions and (optional) attach your photo on coordinates to log:

  • How is the color of the sand on Giftun island, on the coordinates?
  • How many trees can you see on Giftun island fom the coordinates?
  • How is the approximate salinity of the Red Sea?

 

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q The most exciting way to learn about the Earth and its processes is to get into the outdoors and experience it first-hand. Visiting an Earthcache is a great outdoor activity the whole family can enjoy. An Earthcache is a special place that people can visit to learn about a unique geoscience feature or aspect of our Earth. Earthcaches include a set of educational notes and the details about where to find the location (latitude and longitude). Visitors to Earthcaches can see how our planet has been shaped by geological processes, how we manage the resources and how scientists gather evidence to learn about the Earth. To find out more click HERE.

 


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