Marsa Alam

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Until very recently Marsa Alam (Arabic: مرسى علم‎) was a small fishing village in Egypt, on the west coast of the Red Sea. However, it is rapidly increasing in popularity, and since the opening of its International Airport back in 2001, it has started to become yet another favourite holiday destination on the Red Sea Riviera. In fact, most informed observers believe that it is destined to become as popular a resort as Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada within the next few years. However, its airport is still small and as of August 2006 had only one departure gate.

Marsa Alam is situated near to the Tropic of Cancer where the Sahara Desert meets the Red Sea and it has the appearance of a tropical paradise with its palm trees, mangroves and sea coasts fringed with barrier coral reefs. It has already gained a strong reputation amongst divers due to its numerous and unspoilt diving sites both along the coast and offshore. Sightings of spinner dolphins, dugongs and hammerhead sharks are a frequent occurrence for those who venture into its waters.

Marsa Alam also has some interesting inland attractions worth exploring such as the Emerald Mines and the Temple of Seti I at Khanais.

Average temperatures during the winter months (October to March) range from 18 to 35 degrees Celsius and during the summer months (April to September) from 20 to 45 degrees Celsius. The temperature of the Red Sea at this location during the year ranges from 22 to 29 degrees Celsius.