The Red Sea lies between arid land, desert and semi-desert, the main reasons for the better development of reef systems along the Red Sea is because of its greater depths and an efficient water circulation pattern, the Red Sea water mass exchanges its water with the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean via the Gulf of Aden.
These physical factors reduce the effect of high salinity caused by evaporation and cold water in the north and relatively hot water in the south, The Red Sea is a rich and diverse ecosystem. More than 1100 species of fish have been recorded in the Red Sea, and around 10% of these are found nowhere else.
The rich diversity is in part due to the 2,000 km (1,240 mi) of coral reef extending along its coastline; these fringing reefs are 6000 years old.
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