Sinaya sea. Fantastic Sinai Desert (Egypt)
Geography and geology
The Sinai Peninsula, better known simply as Sinai (Arabic: شبه جزيرة سيناء, Shibh Jazirat Sina) has the shape of a wedge, pointed to the south, bounded on the north by the Mediterranean coast, on the west by the Gulf of Suez, on the east by the Gulf of Aqaba. Since the boundaries of the peninsula are arbitrary, its territory, depending on the determination method, is estimated to range from 25 thousand to 60 thousand km². The territory is mainly occupied by desert; closer to the south there are mountains (the highest point is Mount St. Catherine, 2637 m) and plateaus. Oil fields have been discovered on the peninsula, and turquoise has also traditionally been mined.
Traveling through the Sinai, you can find yourself in three countries - Egypt, Jordan and Israel. All of them are in close proximity to each other. The average travel time is 2-3 hours.
Main attraction Sinai Peninsula- this is its beautiful and majestic fauna - the coral reefs of the Red Sea. A wide barrier reef stretches along the entire coast of Sinai, which makes it very popular place dives among divers all over the world.
The deserts of the Sinai Peninsula are home to wolves, hyenas, foxes, mountain goats, gazelles and eagles.
Climate and weather
Tropical desert. The temperature in summer is 35-40 °C (which, due to the dry air, feels like 26-28 °C in Moscow), in winter - 23-26 °C. Here 365 sunny days It is cloudy throughout the year in winter and autumn, but the sun is visible every day. Dahab, located on east coast Sinai Peninsula is considered year-round resort. Wind - 300 days a year, which causes the rapid development of windsurfing and kitesurfing in the region. Water temperature ranges from 21-22 °C in January to 28-29 °C in July and August. The frequency of high and low tide is about 6 hours.
Indigenous people Sinai desert- Bedouins. The word “Bedouin” comes from the Arabic يودب badawi - “inhabitant of the desert (steppe)”, “nomad”. Typically, this term is used to refer to the entire population of the Arab world who lead a nomadic lifestyle, regardless of their nationality or religion. According to modern science, Bedouins have lived in the desert for at least 4-5 thousand years.
The Bedouins are distinguished by their national traditions and culture, sometimes running counter to Arab principles. Formally, the Bedouins are Muslims, but, nevertheless, they still follow many pagan customs and beliefs traditional for their tribes, and all disputes, conflicts and problems are resolved according to their own Bedouin law - Urfa. The first law of a Bedouin is hospitality. They are excellent guides and without them it would be impossible to see those natural beauty, which are located far from highways. They know the desert grasses well and determine their path by unknown signs.
Over the past 30 years, the life of the Bedouins has undergone many changes, one of which is that Jeep SUVs have almost universally replaced camels as the food of choice. vehicle, but fortunately, Bedouin culture in Sinai has remained virtually unchanged. Almost all Bedouins live in the north of Dahab - in the Assala area, the main bay of the once Bedouin village.
Bedouin men and women traditionally have different roles in society. Bedouin men typically earn a living for their families. Today, some of them work as safari guides, drivers, some own shops, some are involved in construction or in the service sector. Women work primarily in the home, taking care of household chores, the family, and the herd of goats, sheep, and camels.
The Bedouins have an amazing gift of storytelling and can tell you numerous stories about “what events happened in ancient times.” Most of the stories are unusual stories about the behavior of camels, about the miraculous treatment with medicinal herbs that they use in their family. Many Bedouins have a real talent for poetry, often using it for special occasions such as weddings.
Since time immemorial, Sinai, sometimes figuratively called “24 thousand square miles of nothingness,” has been one of the world's great crossroads. Since ancient times, the peninsula has served as a transit route from Africa to Asia, from Europe to Indian Ocean and on Far East, was a bridge between the Mediterranean and Red Seas. In the 16th century BC egyptian pharaohs built a road leading through Sinai to Beersheba (Bathsheba) and further to Jerusalem. The "Great Sea Route" connecting the Nile Valley with Mesopotamia passed along Mediterranean coast peninsula.
The sands of Sinai remember Napoleon, who passed through it north coast in 1799 during the Egyptian campaign. Since the 13th century, it belonged first to the Mamelukes and then to the Turkish Ottoman Empire, until in 1917, during the First World War, the peninsula was captured by British troops.
In 1967, as a result of the Six-Day War, the Israelis conquered the peninsula; The Suez Canal closed.
In 1973, the Egyptians crossed the Suez Canal and attacked Israel. Israel drove the Egyptian troops back. Israel later withdrew its troops located west of the canal.
In 1979, after the signing of the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty, Israel began to gradually return the peninsula to Egypt, dismantling most of its settlements, and the rest went to Egypt (for example, the settlement of Ophir in the south of the peninsula became the current Sharm el-Sheikh).
Egypt
The local currency is the Egyptian pound. There are 100 piastres in one pound. Freely exchanged for dollars and other convertible currencies in banks and exchange offices, which are usually located in airports, hotels, large restaurants, etc. 1 US dollar costs about 6 Egyptian pounds (rate varies). Coins come in 5, 10, 25 piastres. Banknotes come in denominations of 10, 25 and 50 piastres, and pounds in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 500, 1000. Be careful when receiving change when shopping, because The 50 piastres and 50 pounds notes are very similar!
Credit cards and travelers checks are widely used in large tourist centers. There are many ATMs and they are quite common in all retail outlets. However, in the province the use of electronic payment instruments is extremely difficult.
Israel
The official currency of Israel is the new shekel (NIS), the plural in Hebrew is "shkalim". One shekel is equal to 100 agorot, the singular number is "agora". Currently in circulation in Israel are banknotes of 200, 100, 50 and 20 shekels, coins of 1, 5 and 10 shekels, as well as 50, 10 and 5 agorot.
Credit cards from the world's leading payment systems are accepted almost everywhere. ATMs are widespread. Many ATMs allow you to withdraw cash in foreign currencies. International credit cards and traveler's checks can also be cashed in the foreign currency departments of banks without commissions.
Jordan
The currency is the Jordanian dinar. 1 dinar = 1000 fils. The Jordanian dinar is divided into 100 qirsh and 1000 fils. Weighted average exchange rate - 1USD = 0.7JOD
Currency exchange can be done in banks, hotels, special exchange offices, as well as at borders and at the airport.
Payment for goods and services usually occurs in dinars.
Stores
Shops in Egypt are usually open until 22:00. If there is a price set for the product, then haggling is pointless. If not, the price can be reduced by 10-20%, and sometimes more.
Souvenirs.
Egypt has a huge variety of souvenirs. It is impossible to think of a more Egyptian souvenir than papyrus with colored drawings. Papyri are inexpensive, durable, lightweight and easy to transport. It should be noted that Egypt is flooded with cheap fakes - made from rice paper and banana leaves with stamped designs, so you should buy papyri only in specialized stores, the so-called “papyrus museums”, where quality certificates are issued. Throughout Sinai, coinage - plates with Arabic designs or artistically decorated hookahs - are very popular among tourists. You can also buy oils and essences of plant origin.
Sinai's business card is a T-shirt with a diver or windsurfer depicted on it with the inscription Surf ever, work never.
In Egypt, Israel and Jordan, time is one hour behind Moscow
Communication and Internet
If you use the “Roaming” service, SIM cards from MTS, Beeline and Megafon operators are connected to the local operator in all places visited by tourists.
When talking from a pay phone on the street, 1 minute of conversation with Russia costs about 60 rubles, at a call center about 100, and from a hotel - 150 rubles. The minimum duration of calls from call centers or from hotels is 3 minutes. The billing starts on the third ring, and money is charged even if the call is not answered. A card is required to speak from a pay phone. They are usually sold in "small supermarkets", bus stations, etc. A twenty-pound card is enough for about 6-8 minutes of conversation with Moscow, but if there is less than a certain amount left on it (about 5 pounds), then it can only be used for local calls. There are cards for 10, 50 pounds. International code Russia 007, then you need to dial the area code and subscriber number.
Electricity
In Egypt, the network voltage is 220V. European type sockets.
Border crossing rules
Due to the fact that the Sinai Peninsula is divided between three states, when traveling here you will most likely cross borders. And each case has its own nuances.
Egypt - Israel
If you want to cross the border between Egypt and Israel while on the Sinai Peninsula, it will be very easy to do so. It is enough to come to Taba (180 km from Sharm el-Sheikh).
While vacationing in Taba, you fall under the jurisdiction of Egypt, but the proximity to the Israeli border gives every chance to combine one person in two countries at the same time.
Here you should take into account the nuances when crossing the border!
Who does not have to pay the Israeli exit tax when crossing the border?
First of all, based on the Camp David Agreement between the two countries mentioned, the Taba area is considered a special zone. We are talking about a stretch of land starting from the border and ending with the Tobya Hotel two kilometers to the south. On these two kilometers there are at least ten hotels where thousands of tourists live. As you know, when leaving Israel, everyone is forced to pay a $32 border tax. Then, on the Egyptian side, the tourist is forced to pay 75 pounds ($14) entry fee. At the same time, only those who plan to travel outside the above-mentioned two-kilometer Taba zone pay.
In other words, if you are, say, staying at the Hilton-Taba, then you do not have to pay an exit fee. Even if you cross the border every half hour. To avoid paying this amount, you must provide border guards with evidence that you live in the Taba area. For example, a hotel reservation.
Who should pay £75 to enter Egypt?
Only those who plan to stay outside the Taba area pay. The scheme is the same as with the Israeli exit tax. If you live in a hotel near the border, you don't pay anything. You will need proof of your hotel reservation or room keys.
When crossing the border into Israel from Egypt, you must remember that an additional border fee is charged: 60 shekels for Russian citizens (Egypt-Israel) and 200 shekels for return (Israel-Egypt) on the Israeli side and 75 pounds on the Egyptian side.
Egypt - Jordan
There are two options to get to Jordan from Egypt. You can take advantage of a regular ferry line between the Egyptian town of Nuweiba on the Sinai Peninsula and the Jordanian port of Aqaba. The duration of such a trip is 3-4 hours, the cost is $70-80 (depending on the ship).
Some time ago, a new ferry line opened, Taba - Aqaba. It is much more convenient than Nuweiba - Aqaba. But for now this line is used for charter flights on orders travel agencies, there are either no tickets available for free sale, or their purchase is extremely unpredictable.
Israel - Jordan
It's possible, but not necessary. It is better to take the ferry from Egypt. If you really want an original trip, then from Israeli Eilat this can be done through the Arava checkpoint, a ten-minute drive from the city center in the direction Dead Sea. For those who, for one reason or another, do not have a suitable bus departure time or a fixed return date, they can easily get to one of the border crossings at public transport, go through border control, and on the Jordanian side, take advantage of frequent and cheap local buses and minibuses. However, it should be noted that in order to directly cross the border, you will have to negotiate with one of the bus or truck drivers traveling to Jordan to take you with them when crossing the bridge over the Jordan River, since crossing the border on foot is prohibited. The same rule applies when returning back. When making financial calculations for your trip, you should keep in mind that the fee when leaving Israel for Jordan is $17 in shekel equivalent.
Health
Officially, vaccinations are not required for Russians traveling to Egypt. Some doctors recommend vaccinations against diphtheria, tetanus, typhoid and polio.
It is necessary to observe basic rules of personal hygiene. It is recommended to brush your teeth with bottled water because... Desalinated water comes from the tap.
The standard of living in Egypt has grown rapidly over the past 20 years and continues to rise. Egypt's health care also does not stand still; the country is equipped with new hospitals and modern equipment. Prices for medicines in Egypt are much lower than Russian prices.
Egyptian cuisine in Sinai.
On the Egyptian side of Sinai, the cuisine is unique and sometimes you can find dishes here that you will not find throughout the entire Egyptian territory.
As a rule, when looking for food in Dahab, you first of all come to the famous promenade with numerous Arabic restaurants. These are Friends, one of the oldest and famous for its friendly atmosphere, Ali Baba with white tablecloths and an atmosphere of peculiar pathos, El Lantern, Nemo, Green Valley, Chillout, Napoleon, Al Capone and others. It is almost impossible to understand at first glance how they differ from each other. The truth is that practically nothing. Those. their menu is exactly the same, traditional for this class of restaurants. However, significant differences can be found in prices, service and quality of preparation. Moreover, it is curious that one thing can be good in one restaurant, and something else in another. One way or another, it is certainly worth sitting on the shore, trying traditional dishes, smoking a hookah, and feeling the special atmosphere of these establishments. Not doing this means not fully visiting Dahab.
First, get rid of the illusory desire to try Arab cuisine. She is not in Dahab. To do this, it is better to go to Cairo or Alexandria. What the classic restaurants offer to tourists is the modernized traditions of the former Israeli resort. If you want something truly Arabic, go to one of the workers' canteens in the city and order falafel (pea fritters) and ful (stewed beans). All Arabs eat this for breakfast every day and it’s delicious! In addition, you will get to know non-tourist places and feel their flavor.
Let's return to the menu of traditional tourist restaurants. It consists of several types of main dishes: meat, chicken, fish or seafood, cooked on the grill or on an open window, always served as a side dish with rice and French fries, sometimes grilled vegetables, and as a preliminary appetizer - tortillas and a set of local salads in tiny plates (all included in the price).
This is the main tradition of Israeli cuisine, which was adopted by the Egyptian Sinai - to serve before the main course. large number a variety of snacks. Despite the fact that the chefs have greatly simplified the cooking technology and reduced the number of appetizer options (there are 6-7 main ones here, while Israeli establishments catering offer up to 50 species), the tradition is very interesting and pleasant. The main thing is not to overeat on appetizers so that you can fit in the main course later!
Some appetizers deserve a separate description: tahina, khomus, babaganoush, tzatziki.
They look unusual, but they are definitely worth a try. Tahina is sesame puree with the addition of spices and vegetable oil. Khomus - white pea and chickpea puree.
Babaganoush is a baked eggplant appetizer, often topped with tahini. It is prepared differently everywhere. Sometimes it’s very tasty, sometimes it’s inedible. Tzatziki is yogurt with grated fresh cucumbers. It tastes very good and cannot be spoiled.
Jordanian cuisine in Sinai
The most favorite dish in Jordan, which, for example, is served to guests at noisy weddings, is mensaf (lamb cooked in sour cream, served on rice with the resulting soup and strewn with toasted pine nuts).
But if mansaf is to some extent a festive dish, then adas (yellow lentils with chicken and onions in lemon juice) is a dish eaten almost every day. This hearty lentil stew is usually eaten in winter. Another typically Jordanian dish is very interesting - maqluba, which is translated from Arabic as “upside down”. The name of the dish fully corresponds to the method of its preparation. Potatoes and eggplants are fried together with beef or lamb in a saucepan or frying pan. Then pre-fried rice is added there, filled with water, salt and spices are added and the whole thing is simmered until cooked. Well, then the makluba is covered with a large dish and turned over. It turns out to be a meat-potato-rice casserole, served on a large platter with sour cream. Jordanian taverns often offer mlukhiya - a soup made from meat, chicken or rabbit with garlic, rice and lemon juice. The leaves of various herbs growing in Arab countries give mlukhia a special piquancy. An inexpensive dish of Jordanian cuisine is cutlets made from coarsely crushed peas, which are generously smeared with theheniya (aka tahina), a kind of putty made from the same yellow peas with sesame oil. Thenia is often eaten with meat or chicken dishes. Our tourists can get acquainted with this seasoning in Israel.
Anyone who has tried the sweets made in Jordan has invariably come to the conclusion that what is called “oriental sweets” in other Arab countries (with the possible exception of Syria and Lebanon) is not such. Jordan's most popular sweets are made with pistachios (baklyawa), cheese (kanafah) or in the form of cookies studded with sim-sim (sesame seeds).
Pay attention to the coffee. Many gourmets bring kilograms of coffee from Jordan.
Israeli cuisine in Sinai.
In the cuisine of Israel (it concerns everything geographical areas) there is one defining principle: a religious Jew eats only kosher food, and only those restaurants that comply with the strict rules of the rabbinical overseers are allowed to exist.
“Kosher” generally means “pure” or “permissible,” and the set of rules that determine kosher is called kashrut. Three Rules of Kosher There are three basic rules of kosher written in the Torah. First: “Do not boil a kid in its mother’s milk,” therefore meat and milk should not be combined in the same container and in the stomach. The second rule is related to the prohibition of consuming blood, so cattle are slaughtered in a special way so that all the blood flows out of the animal. According to the third rule, it is allowed to eat only the meat of artiodactyl mammals, chewing cud, poultry and those marine inhabitants that have scales and gills. As a result, it is forbidden to eat pork and camel meat, as well as lobsters and crabs. However, despite all the restrictions, food in Israel is varied and tasty. And those who cannot do without sour cream sauce for beef will find a restaurant in Eilat that serves non-kosher food.
Israeli cuisine, in addition to kosher, is also distinguished by Arab influence, as well as the use of local seasonings mentioned in the Bible: sesame, cinnamon, mint, coriander, which adds originality to the dishes. Menus in restaurants are usually written not only in Hebrew, but also in English, and in some places in Russian.
The Sinai Peninsula covers an area of about 61 thousand square kilometers. Geographically, Sinai is located in Egypt, but the peninsula is separated from its homeland by the Suez Canal. The water boundaries of the Gulf of Suez in the west of the peninsula separate Asia (as part of the World) from the African continent. In the east, Sinai is washed by the waters of the Arabian Gulf of Aqaba. In the northeast, on a 200 km stretch of the Mediterranean coast, there was a famous ancient route followed by conquerors, traders and travelers.
About twenty million years ago, Sinai was one with Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula. Heat flows in the Earth's mantle created huge cracks that lifted and moved the surface rocks of this part of the Earth. Sinai is part of the great rift valley, a giant fracture in the earth's crust that begins in East Africa and continues through the Red Sea, into the Gulf of Aqaba through the Jordan Valley (Dead Sea, Sea of Galilee).
Geologically, Sinai is divided into three zones. The northern region consists of sand dunes and beaches formed by fossils due to changes in the level of the Mediterranean Sea during the Ice Age, two million years ago. The landscape is mostly flat, with only occasional but huge sand and limestone hills.
The plateau of the central geological region is formed by limestone of the Tertiary period. The highland expands southward until it enters a third geological region consisting of granite and volcanic rocks. Limestone and sandstone deposits are replaced by granite and basalt. Both rocks were formed as a result of volcanic activity on the ocean floor in ancient times.
History of Sinai
Archaeological expeditions and research into the prehistoric past in Sinai are lifting the veil of secrets about the history of the peninsula. For example, bones and flint tools have been found, clearly proving the presence of human life in the desert 200,000 years ago!
Also, very strange prehistoric structures were discovered, they were called the “desert kite”. They are stone walls of an unusual configuration, built with a triangular tip leading down. They were probably used to hunt gazelles.
In the west of the peninsula there are ancient burial rooms of the early Bronze Age. Some of them are preserved in excellent condition and they are located in different areas. Perhaps this suggests that nomads used these places only for ceremonies or as resting places during travel.
Tribes of people mainly settled in the area of Mount Sinai (St. Catherine's Monastery) and have been mining copper and turquoise since ancient times. Among them were tribes mentioned in Jewish, Christian and Islamic books, such as: Horites (highlanders), Rephaim, Edomites (descendants of Esau), Amalekites (nomadic people), Medians (nomads of the Arabian Peninsula).
Thus, during the reign of Timna (3500 BC), the population of Sinai increased, and mining, copper smelting and turquoise mining flourished.
The reign of the first dynasty of pharaohs is characterized by profitable mining of copper and turquoise. A bas-relief discovered at Wadi Magara, Sinai, depicts Pharaoh Sekhemkhet (2600 BC) and indicates the early presence of Egyptian pharaohs in Sinai.
Labor camps were created near the deposits. Copper and turquoise were transported along ancient routes to the port of Markha near Abu Znaima. There, the minerals were loaded onto ships and transported to Egypt.
During the 12th Dynasty, at Serabit Al Khadem, a magnificent temple was built dedicated to the goddess Hathor, the maiden of turquoise, love and joy.
One of the moments of this historical period is important. The workers wrote symbols on the walls, thus translating the signs of the hieroglyphic Egyptian alphabet into consonant signs that they understood. These developed into the Proto-Sinaitic alphabet, from which the Semitic languages arose.
Many architectural monuments, as well as rocks and rocks with drawings belong to the Nabatean culture (2-3 century AD). There are both Roman and Byzantine inscriptions.
Sinai and the Bible
Since the reign of Thutmose III, Jews have lived in Egypt. The exodus of the Jewish people probably took place during the reign of Ramses II (1290 - 1224 BC). One can only guess about the reasons for the outcome. Most likely, this was due to the difficult economic situation, in the form of high taxes and forced labor. This was the reason for the exodus of milk and honey into the land. Apart from biblical sources, there is no historical evidence, but ancient Egyptian papyri speak of Jews and other minorities living in Egypt.
One way or another, in the 3rd century, hermits who sought refuge and solitude in high mountains central Sinai region, developed the idea of Mount Sinai as the place where Moses received the 10 Commandments. By the 19th century, Sinai had become popular among explorers and adventurers, and from that time on, research into specific exodus sites began, based on documentary evidence and geographical characteristics.
According to most researchers, the crossing of the sea by Moses and the Jews took place in the Gulf of Suez, in the area of Lake Gorkoye. And then they went to Ayun Musa (Spring of Moses). Other biblical sites were associated with Elim (Wadi Garandel) and with the sulfur springs of Hammam Pharaoh, in the desert of Sin (Markha, the ancient port of Abu Znaima), Repheedim (Wadi Feiran, Paran from the book of Exodus). Gebel (mountain) Serbal in Wadi Feiran was recognized as the Mountain of the Ten Commandments by early Christians. Ancient settlements Bedouins are located in this area, called the Moses Valley.
Other scientists support the idea northern route, as a possible path for the Israelis. "Yam Saf" - the sea of reeds - was, in fact, a region of lakes along the Mediterranean coast, between present-day Port Said and Al Arish. Numerous thickets of reeds here to this day correspond to this biblical description. Tamarisk trees are used in the production of food known as manna. There are many of these trees in the north of Sinai, while almost none in the south. Quails are more common in the north rather than in southern Sinai. The names of places and settlements are in accordance with their old names, similar to the biblical ones: Arisha (Alushe), Kadesh Barnea (Kades), Libni (Livni).
It is considered the most important strategic part of the Egyptian state. He is given great value in history and culture on a global scale.
Location of the Sinai Peninsula (At-Tih)
Sinai resembles a wedge shape, which is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba. The main part (Et-Tikh plateau) of the Sinai Peninsula is deserted. The highest point of the desert is Mount St. Catherine (2637 m). To the east of the territory where the desert of the Sinai Peninsula is located, there is
Natural and climatic characteristics of the peninsula
Sinai is translated as “rocky.” This name is also reflected in the character of the area. The Sinai Desert consists of endless sand, bizarre mountains, rocks, valleys, sinkholes and canyons.
Precipitation in this endless desert does not exceed 100 mm. They mainly seep through the sand, which is reflected in the small distance of groundwater from the surface (several meters).
The Sinai Desert is part of the Arabian floristic region, which determines the nature of the local flora. The rocky plateau of At Tih is mostly devoid of vegetation. Sometimes in the beds of the wadi you can find plants such as anabasis, barnyard grass, and spiny zilla.
On the western and northern parts On the Sinai Peninsula there are sandy ergs where you can find retam shrubs, aristidas, and oats. On the rocky part of this territory, winged ephedra, thymelea pilosa and wormwood are sometimes found. Acacias and tamarisk grow on the bottom of the wadi, which produces sweet sap. Among the endless sandy massifs you can find lakes and swamps.
The fauna of the Sinai Desert is represented by small rodents (called gerbils), which dig holes and form colonies. There are also jerboas, common gazelle, Nubian goat, fennec and other animals. Most recently, a large jackal, which usually lives in northern Africa, was discovered here.
Birds here are represented mainly by the passerine family. In the wadi beds these are, for example, wheatears, larks, and desert sparrows. IN mountainous places There are chickens, crows, golden eagles and vultures.
Sinai Desert: Description of an Environmental Problem
Due to the fact that the Sinai Peninsula is experiencing a huge influx of tourists, rapid development of industry and urban construction, the ecology of Sinai is in serious danger: sea corals are dying in huge quantities. This is due to the fact that the temperature begins to rise critically, the corals become clogged with sand. And sad as it may be, the environmental situation was affected by the massive vandalism of tourists who break off “pieces of Egypt” - corals - as souvenirs. The state authorities have taken strict measures to suppress such actions on the part of travelers: a fine of $100 has been introduced for damaging corals.
Sinai Desert: first world fame
In history, Sinai gained worldwide fame thanks to the Mount of Moses, which is of great importance for Christians. God came down here to Moses and gave him the Ten Commandments. To this day it is unknown where this mountain of the same name is located. The Bible gives it various names. From the 4th century Mount Sinai is considered to be Mount Moses, near the base of which a monastery dedicated to St. Catherine was erected.
Traditions: yesterday and today
The Sinai Desert has long been especially revered in the Egyptian state; its history has deep roots. Numerous traditional rituals have been preserved to this day, in which even tourists can participate. But new ones have also appeared, for example, you can take part in climbing Mount Moses at night to watch the sunrise at its top. This ceremony appeared relatively recently. It is associated with the peak influx of tourists to Egypt. They get to the top of the mountain at night along a long path, when the sun's rays are not yet shining, and descend in the morning along a short path. In the 17th century Wallachian boyar Mihai Catacuzino even built a monastery in Russia called “Sinai” after he visited the monastery of St. Catherine.
More than 5 thousand years ago, the Egyptians mastered the territory of the Sinai Peninsula, where many monuments from various eras of historical significance have been preserved. A significant fact in the history of Sinai is that in 1979 a peace treaty was concluded between the Egyptian and Israeli states, according to which the Sinai was returned to Egypt.
Riddle of the Bedouins
For many, the Sinai Desert is associated with a lifeless and dull area, where small oases are occasionally found. This is the common image of this territory for most people. Here all living things fight for their right to exist. But here a curious paradox arises - if the average life span in many countries is approximately sixty years, then for the Bedouins living in the desert it is eighty years. Thus, the Bedouin way of life was completely adapted to the desert habitat. But there are no people willing to settle in desert areas.
Origin of names
For example, the term “oasis” comes from the Greek word Uasis, which in turn comes from the Egyptian word Uit, which refers to the name of several Egyptian settlements in the middle reaches of the Nile. That is, the term “oasis” was used by the Egyptians to designate an area located in the middle of the desert, which has favorable conditions for life.
With the interpretation of the desert, everything is clearer than clear - it is empty and it is empty. This is where the question arises that this word is of Slavic origin, because it means empty space. Then what was the name of the desert itself? local population? The Arabs gave the desert a name that means a place where there is no one but Allah. And one proverb among the Arabs says that the desert is God’s garden, from where he removed all people in order to be alone with himself.
A little about the Bedouins of the Sinai Desert
At the moment, the Bedouins also live in tents, which can easily be folded and loaded onto camels in order to continue to wander further along the endless sands, since the area of the Sinai desert allows this. According to recently updated data, its area is almost 61 thousand km 2. From north to south its length reaches 370 km, and from east to west it stretches 210 km. Sometimes the permanent structures found are classified as " tourism infrastructure" And the Bedouins themselves are not averse to making money from travelers. Many of them even have a mobile phone, but they are not yet ready for a radical change in their lifestyle. The most important source of income for the Bedouins is, of course, camels, which can be used to give rides to travelers.
Bedouins use desalinated sea water for drinking, which is not of very high quality. This led to the fact that recently they were almost the only indigenous inhabitants of this vast desert area. At the moment, native townspeople are very rare in Sharm el-Sheikh. People who came here to work mainly live here.
What attracts tourists to the Sinai Desert?
Of course, people accustomed to forests, fields and rivers are attracted here by the exotic desert terrain and its mysterious oases. The Sinai desert is full of numerous mysteries that have yet to be solved. She has these beautiful places, saturated with bright colors, which sometimes dazzle the eyes. Tourists do not put away their cameras for a second, as gorgeous landscapes appear before their eyes. Along the way, they encounter scattered Bedouin camps where they can ride camels. Of course, in some places the road is very dangerous, but this only makes the trip to the Sinai Desert more colorful.
Sinai Peninsula(Ar. سِينَاء [Сѣна̄’]) - a peninsula in the Red Sea, on the border between Asia and Africa, part of the territory. Important events in the history of Judaism are associated with the Sinai Peninsula: the wanderings of the Israelites after their flight from Egypt on the way to their promised land in Canaan under the leadership of Moses (), the site of the latter's miracles and, above all, the region where the Ten Commandments were given and God was concluded covenant with the Israelites. All these events are described in many surahs of the Koran.
Geography
The territory of the Sinai Peninsula is mainly occupied by desert. The climate is arid. Limited in the north Mediterranean Sea, in the west by the Gulf of Suez and the Canal, in the east by the Gulf of Aqaba, in the northeast by the Negev desert and the Gaza Strip. Since the boundaries of the peninsula are arbitrary, its territory, depending on the determination method, is estimated to range from 25 thousand to 61 thousand km². In the north the terrain is flat, as you move south the terrain becomes mountainous. Residents of the peninsula call the northern region of the plateau the “Desert of Wanderers” ( Badiyat at-tih), that is, the sons of Israel, and the southern mountainous part - Bilyad at-tour(“Land of the mountains”), that is, Mount Sinai.
The highest point is Katerin or Jabal Kasrin (Ar. جبل كاثرين) with a height of 2637 meters. 4 km northeast of Mount Catherine is Mount Sinai or Jabal Musa (Ar. جبل موسى) with a height of 2285 meters. To the north at the foot of the mountain stands the famous monastery of St. Catherine, founded around 530, and probably the oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery in the world.
Monastery of St. Catherine
Story
Since the 18th century, the main administrative center There was al-Arish on the Mediterranean coast, which had a mixed population consisting of descendants of Ottoman officials, peasants from Egypt and the Hijaz. In the 19th century, the Sinai Peninsula was visited by such Western travelers as the German Seetzen, the Swiss Burckhardt, the English professor Palmer, the American E. Robinson and the Czech explorer Musil. The most complete work on the history of the peninsula was written by the British official Nahum Shukair. In 1882, Britain occupied the Sinai Peninsula along with the rest of Egypt. During the First World War, the peninsula was captured by the Turks. However, the offensive they launched in the direction of the Suez Canal failed. In 1946, the Sinai Peninsula became a province ( governorate) Egypt. It was the scene of fighting against Israel in 1948, 1956, 1967, 1968-70 and 1973. From 1967 to 1982, the peninsula was under Israeli military occupation. After returning to Egyptian jurisdiction, the authorities built several strategic roads, developed tourism on both sides of the bay, and settled in newly created populated areas Egyptians and Bedouins.
In the Koran
The Sinai Peninsula is mentioned in suras al-Mu'minun(“Believers”): and the tree that comes from (mountain) Tur (in) Sinai [Sѣna’]; it grows oil and seasoning for those who eat.. Interpreters do not have a clear idea of what exactly is meant by the word Sinai, the mountain or the area in which it is located. The Sinai Peninsula had special meaning in the life of the prophet Musa, even more important than Egypt or Canaan, since he witnessed the transmission of the covenant and laws to Musa.
Mount Sinai
In the vast peninsula, the most sacred place was Mount Sinai, which testified to the adoption of the law and covenant. Mountain ( at-tour) appears seven times in the Qur'an without adding a word sīna’. In the verse, Allah Almighty swears by Mount Sinai along with two others sacred places- Palestine and Mecca. sure at-Tur("Mountain") Allah honors Mount Sinai along with the book, scroll, house and roof.
At-Tikh
The desert forming the border zone between Palestine and Egypt in medieval Islamic literature was called at-Tikh(Ar. التِّيه ), more precisely Fahs at-Tikh. Word at-tich absent from the Koran, but there is a verb yatihun(Ar. يَتِيهُونَ ), from which the name of the desert presumably comes. In suras al-Maida(“Meal”) the words “they will wander in the earth” are addressed to the children of Israel, who, because of their refusal to enter Palestine, had to wander in the Sinai desert for 40 years. Therefore, medieval Arab geographers also called the Sinai Desert the “Desert of Bani Israel.” In the desert there was a fortress with the same name and a wadi. The al-Tih Desert extends from the al-Jifar area to Mount Sinai, bounded on the west by the Egyptian province of al-Rif, and on the east by the areas of Jerusalem and southern Palestine.
According to the description of Arab geographers, the soil at al-Tiha was partly rocky and partly sandy, and also contained salt marshes and hills of red sandstone, and had several palm trees and springs. Ad-Dimashki mentions in the desert areas of Tikh Bani Israel, the Jewish cities of Qadas (Kadesh Barnea), Huwayruk, al-Halasa (Yelusa), al-Halus (Lissa), al-Shaba (Beershebah or Versheba) and al-Madura. He mentioned al-Tih among the areas of the kingdom of al-Karak, by which he probably meant the lands that once belonged to Renaud de Chatillon. From the desert at-Tikh and down through Akabat Busak to Ayla there is a road that was first made passable for caravans during the time of the Tulunid Khumaravayha. The second leg of the trip was from Ayla straight through the desert to the Paran Sea.
When the Mamluk Bahrites fled Cairo in 1228, most of them wandered for five days in the desert; on the sixth day they discovered a large abandoned city with walls and marble halls, covered with sand. They found vases and items of clothing that crumbled upon first contact. They also found a pond with cold water. The next day they reached al-Karak and sold the goods they found in the buried city. The Mamluks learned that the objects found dated back to the time of the prophet (Moses), and that they were in the “green city of the Israelites.” Caravan and military road from Cairo to Syria in normal times passed through al-Jifar, and did not touch the at-Tikh desert. It was only during the period when al-Jifar was occupied by the Crusaders that the route passed directly through the desert and was of strategic importance, as, for example, we see in the campaigns of Salah ad-din al-Ayyubi and in the construction of the Sadra fortress (now Qalat Gindi)
It is washed by the Red and Mediterranean Seas and is located in the border area between Africa and Asia. Historically, it has been classified as Asia.
Geography
The peninsula is wedge-shaped, pointed to the south, and is limited on the northern part by the Mediterranean coast, although this interpretation of its boundaries is disputed. According to another version, its border is the line between the northern edge of the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba.
The western part of the peninsula is washed by the Gulf of Suez, the eastern by the Gulf of Aqaba. The size of the peninsula's territory is set at 25 - 61 thousand square kilometers; this difference in size estimates is due to the fact that the boundaries of the peninsula are very arbitrary and depend on the methodology used in the calculation.
The south of the peninsula is characterized by mountainous terrain (Mount St. Catherine is the most high point Sinaia, 2637 meters above sea level), almost the entire rest of the part is covered with desert, but the peninsula is not at all lifeless; the coastal fauna is very rich here. In addition to developing tourism, oil deposits have been discovered on its territory and turquoise mining has developed.
Climate
Basically, the climate is tropical desert, with the exception of the territory bordering the Mediterranean Sea, which is characterized by a milder Mediterranean type of climate. However, the climate of the peninsula is considered very arid, in the southern part, the mountains block the way for the already rare cyclones coming from the north, therefore, the region receives very little or no rainfall. At the same time, temperatures reach 40 degrees Celsius or more in the shade, but frosts are possible at night, especially in the desert. Temperatures are lower in winter. The most favorable climate with warm winters is observed in the south of the peninsula, heated by the Red Sea.
Tourism
Nowadays, Sinai is one of the centers of tourism in Egypt. The city is the capital of the peninsula and its main resort. In terms of the number of tourists received, the Sinai Peninsula can compete for primacy with the Red Sea region, led by the resort.
The second most important resort in Sinai is - this is a place with constant winds, and amateurs like to come here aquatic species sports The third famous resort is the city, beloved by fans excursion holiday, since from here you can easily and quickly reach the attractions of Israel and Jordan. Another small resort in Sitai - a city. Near the resort of Taba across the border is a popular Israeli resort, which is sometimes also referred to as the Sinai Peninsula.
The Sinai Peninsula boasts several interesting attractions. Here are where, according to scripture, the prophet received the tablets of God; , where the Burning Bush grows, a nature reserve and a unique natural formation - .
For visitors to the Sinai Peninsula, a special entry regime applies, when tourists do not need a full-fledged visa, but simply have a “Sinai stamp” affixed.
Ecology
Environmental problems have recently become very acute on the peninsula. External factors, such as tourism, fishing, urbanization of the coast, negatively affect primarily marine life. Corals are dying due to clogged pores, vandalism by tourists, changes in water acidity and rising temperatures; scientists predict the death of most reefs in the very near future.
Sand brought from the desert and raised from the bottom by tourists when diving to the bottom clogs the pores of the coral and it dies. SUVs, when driving through desert areas, destroy the already thin fertile layer consisting of lichens and stones, which leads to soil erosion, which, in turn, causes more frequent sandstorms bringing sand into the sea.
All this, coupled with the negative impact of the greenhouse effect and global warming, can lead to an environmental disaster. Temperature rise sea water, causes the coral to expel the algae and subsequently die of starvation. Feeding of reef inhabitants by tourists leads to a change in their diet, and as a consequence, the development of the population of starfish, for which corals are the main food. Disruption of the ecological balance due to external factors leads to changes in populations and the death of many species.
The conducted research confirms that the territory of the Nabek Nature Reserve is the most littered. The source of this garbage is not only tourists, but also local Bedouins who set up landfills and catch shellfish in protected areas, apparently not realizing the consequences of their actions. Environmental education in the country is not developing, since the main efforts are devoted to the development of tourism for profit.
Exodus of anatomically modern humans from Africa
S. Oppenheimer, a pediatrician from Great Britain, hypothesized that 120 thousand years ago, representatives of Homo sapiens made an exodus from Africa to the Levant region, and precisely through the Sinai Peninsula. However, the ancestors of modern people were unable to survive due to the onset of the Ice Age.
Nevertheless, non-African peoples descended from representatives who lived in the area of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait about 80 thousand years ago, some of whom subsequently returned to North Africa, namely through the Sinai Peninsula.
German scientists from the University of Tübingen hypothesize that the origin of modern man occurred in two waves. The first wave, which became the ancestors of the Australian Aborigines, Papuans and Melanesians, passed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait about 130 thousand years ago, and the ancestors of the inhabitants of other Asian populations became the descendants of the second wave, 50 thousand years ago, who came out of Africa in the region to north of the Red Sea.
