Marsa Alam 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 2001.
Marsa Alam is situated near the Tropic of Cancer
where the Arabian 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 scuba
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.
Among the most famous beaches around Marsa Alam is
the Abu Dabab beach. In Abu Dabab, turtles are a common sight and it is nearly
guaranteed that when diving, one will see at least one turtle. For tourists who
seek to see something less typical, there is marine wildlife like sea snakes,
crocodilefish and octopuses.
Marsa Alam also has some inland attractions, such as
the Emerald Mines and the Temple of Seti I at Khanais.
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