Marsa Alam
Marsa Alam (Egyptian Arabic: مرسى علم Marsā ʿAlam [ˈmæɾsæ ˈʕælæm], Classical Arabic lit. 'Anchorage Mountain') is a town in south-eastern Egypt, located on the western shore of the Red Sea. It is currently seeing fast increasing popularity as a tourist destination and development following the opening of Marsa Alam International Airport in 2003.
Marsa Alam
مرسى علم | |
---|---|
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Overview of Marsa Alam | |
![]() ![]() Marsa Alam Location in Egypt | |
Coordinates: 25°04′N 34°54′E | |
Country | ![]() |
Governorate | Red Sea Governorate |
Area | |
• Total | 5,476 sq mi (14,184 km2) |
Elevation | 59 ft (18 m) |
Population (2021)[1] | |
• Total | 9,001 |
• Density | 1.6/sq mi (0.63/km2) |
Time zone | UTC+2 (EST) |
Due to its crystal clear water and its white sandy beaches, it is also known as the "Egyptian Maldives".[2][3]
Among the most famous beaches around Marsa Alam is the Abu Dabab beach. In Abu Dabab, turtles are a common sight. For tourists who seek to see something less typical, there is marine wildlife like crocodilefish and octopuses.
Marsa Alam is also known as the world-class kitesurfing destination and starting point for safaris. [4]
Marsa Alam also has some inland attractions, such as the Emerald Mines and the Temple of Seti I at Khanais.
Climate
Despite being over 135 miles (217 km) north of the tropical zone, the city experiences a tropical hot desert climate (Köppen: BWh),[5] with steadier temperatures than places to the north such as Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh, yet Kosseir is steadier and has cooler summers. Marsa Alam, Kosseir and Sharm el-Sheikh have the warmest night temperatures of all other Egyptian cities and resorts. Average maximum temperatures during January typically range from 22 to 25 °C (72 to 77 °F) and in August 33 to 40 °C (91 to 104 °F).
The temperature of the Red Sea at this location during the year ranges from 22 to 29 °C (72 to 84 °F).[6]
The highest record temperature was 45 °C (113 °F), recorded on May 10, 2010, while the lowest record temperature was 5 °C (41 °F), recorded on January 3, 2008.[7]
Climate data for Marsa Alam | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 29 (84) |
32 (90) |
35 (95) |
39 (102) |
45 (113) |
43 (109) |
43 (109) |
42 (108) |
39 (102) |
38 (100) |
34 (93) |
31 (88) |
45 (113) |
Average high °C (°F) | 24.1 (75.4) |
25.1 (77.2) |
26.9 (80.4) |
29.8 (85.6) |
33.1 (91.6) |
34.7 (94.5) |
35.5 (95.9) |
35.6 (96.1) |
34.2 (93.6) |
32.6 (90.7) |
29.3 (84.7) |
25.5 (77.9) |
30.5 (87.0) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 18.6 (65.5) |
19.4 (66.9) |
21.4 (70.5) |
24.2 (75.6) |
27.9 (82.2) |
29.5 (85.1) |
30.5 (86.9) |
30.8 (87.4) |
29.3 (84.7) |
27.4 (81.3) |
24.0 (75.2) |
20.1 (68.2) |
25.3 (77.5) |
Average low °C (°F) | 13.2 (55.8) |
13.8 (56.8) |
15.9 (60.6) |
18.7 (65.7) |
22.7 (72.9) |
24.3 (75.7) |
25.5 (77.9) |
26.0 (78.8) |
24.4 (75.9) |
22.3 (72.1) |
18.7 (65.7) |
14.8 (58.6) |
20.0 (68.0) |
Record low °C (°F) | 5 (41) |
8 (46) |
11 (52) |
15 (59) |
16 (61) |
19 (66) |
22 (72) |
20 (68) |
19 (66) |
15 (59) |
12 (54) |
10 (50) |
5 (41) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
1 (0.0) |
3 (0.1) |
1 (0.0) |
5 (0.1) |
Average rainy days | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 279 | 283 | 310 | 330 | 372 | 390 | 403 | 372 | 330 | 310 | 300 | 279 | 3,958 |
Source 1: Climate-Data.org,[5] Weather2Travel for sunshine and rainy days[8] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Voodoo Skies[7] and MarsaAlam.com[9] for record temperatures, HolidayCheck.com[6] |
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
73 °F
23 °C |
72 °F
22 °C |
72 °F
22 °C |
73 °F
23 °C |
77 °F
25 °C |
81 °F
27 °C |
82 °F
28 °C |
84 °F
29 °C |
82 °F
28 °C |
81 °F
27 °C |
79 °F
26 °C |
75 °F
24 °C |
References
- "Marsā 'Alam (Kism (urban and rural parts), Egypt) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". citypopulation.de. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
- "In photos: Marsa Alam, Sharm el-Sheikh among 10 best beaches in Middle East – TripAdvisor". www.egyptindependent.com. Egypt Independent. 20 April 2017. Archived from the original on 23 Sep 2021.
With its crystal clear water and surreal nature view, Marsa Alam is often dubbed as the "Egyptian Maldives" on the shores of the Red Sea.
- "Discover Marsa Alam, Also Known As The Egyptian Maldives". www.thisiscairo.com. Archived from the original on 23 Sep 2021.
- "Egyptian Tourism Authority".
- "Climate: Marsa Alam - Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table". climate-data.org. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
- "Marsa Alam/ El Quseir - Holiday facts and Information". HolidayCheck.com. Archived from the original on 12 August 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
- "Marsa Alam, Egypt". Voodoo Skies. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
- "Marsa Alam, Egypt: Climate, Global Warming, and Daylight Charts and Data". Weather2Travel. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
- "MARSA ALAM WEATHER". MarsaAlam.com. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
External links

- On the Red Sea, as Hotels Go Up, Divers Head Down The New York Times on diving in Marsa Alam (April 8, 2007)
- Red Sea Spinner Dolphins
- The Dugong of Marsa Abu Dabbab
- Marsa Alam Guide
- Marsa Alam Dugon
- Marsa Alam airport