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Updated: 9/11/2006
The Gulf of Aqaba is 180 km long, an average of 16 km wide and an average of 900 meters deep (reaching a maximum depth of 1850 meters). Israel's border spreads on the northwestern part of the Gulf along a 14-km coastal strip. The Red Sea coast can be divided into three sections: a gently sloping sandy shore along the northern shore; narrow, coarse sand and pebble beaches along the central shore; and a narrow shore with coral reefs at the southernmost edge. The Gulf of Aqaba is the world's northernmost tropical sea ecosystem. Its oxygen-rich water has a temperature of 21o-30oC, and it supports a dense population of hundreds of species of corals, 1270 species of fish, and 1120 species of mollusks. To protect this unique and sensitive area, two marine nature reserves and two coastal reserves have been declared. They extend over 4 km on the marine side and 3.6 km along the Israeli coast respectively. Most of the northern section of the western shore is occupied by port facilities including a commercial port (including loading of fertilizers) and an oil unloading port. Deep water adjacent to the shoreline in the protected waters of the Gulf enables anchorage without the need for offshore breakwaters. The fragile ecological system of the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba is endangered by intensive development. A single major oil or chemical spill can severely damage this unique area, especially because of the close proximity of the highly sensitive coral reef to the terminal on its north. Since prevailing winds and currents are predominantly from the north, the coral reef is subject to high risk. The major sources of risk to the area include: spills from maritime activity and oil transport in the Gulf, chemical pollutants entering the Gulf during transport and loading of phosphates, potash, bromides and other cargoes, microbial pollution from municipal wastewater spills, unregulated mariculture, waste and litter from vessels and vacationers, and physical damage to the coral reef by anchors and by scuba divers and snorkelers. Potentially polluting activities in the Port of Aqaba pose a risk to the Gulf as well.
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