Please understand that I am curious about places, geology, history, space, technology and I also enjoy reading non-fiction, fiction and maybe even some scifi.   I do not consider myself a religious skeptic, but some people may.

Per Wiki:

The Red Sea (also the Erythraean Sea) is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez (leading to the Suez Canal). The Red Sea is a Global 200 ecoregion. The sea is underlain by the Red Sea Rift which is part of the Great Rift Valley.

The Red Sea has a surface area of roughly 438,000 km2 (169,100 mi2).[1][2] It is about 2250 km (1398 mi) long and, at its widest point, 355 km (220.6 mi) wide. It has a maximum depth of 2211 m (7254 ft) in the central median trench, and an average depth of 490 m (1,608 ft). The sea is the habitat of over 1,000 invertebrate species, and 200 soft and hard corals. It is the world’s northernmost tropical sea.

 

It is my sincere hope that in writing this blog entry that I not be labeled a heretic or an anti religion zealot, but I was just curious about several things related to the parting of the Red Sea. Don’t misunderstand me, put me in a box (or a bag either) and please do not judge or assume anything about this short commentary, ’cause you know what everyone says about the word ass-u-me.

The fact is this – sometimes I have a feminine side in my writing and sometimes I have an analytical side.

I am just a sayin’…..

First, I enjoy well written fiction as much as anybody, but my personal passions lean toward non fiction and history. I am guessing that it is likely that more people read and ardently believe fiction than there are people that do not believe nonfiction or well written biographies.  Even autobiographies.

I am just a sayin’:

• The Red Sea is between 100 and 220 miles wide
• It is over 7000 feet deep in the central median trench
• The average depth across the entire surface is over 1600 feet deep

The scene in The Ten Commandments staring Charleston Heston, where Charlie, portraying Moses, parts the waters of the Red Sea just does not give the event justice. It must have been much, much grander, given the distances and the depths involved.

So, still I’m just a sittin’, just a thinkin’, just a wonderin’ right here on a beach on The Red Sea….. where exactly did this parting of the Red Sea take place?   How close am I now?  Is there a plaque or a visitor information center?   If there are signs, is the signage in arabic, english or hebrew?  What does my Fodror’s guide to Egypt say?  Are there any geocaches hidden nearby?

I googled and wiki’d my questions, seeking factual answers.

Turns out, based on the best educated guesses (because it is just speculation like so many things in ancient history) that the parting of the Red Sea was about 100 miles south of here. No one knows for sure, not even the biblical scholars. But I am sure that the scholars are sure it DID happen, as sure as they believe so many other things that seem amazing.

I am just a sayin’……..

I kept up my investigation. Such an epic event, there MUST be more information available. I briefly considered asking the hotel staff or others that I have met, but asking an Egyptian Muslim about where, how far, etc. just did not make much sense. I gave it some serious contemplation – about asking someone how to get there.

My best shot would probably be asking a Jew, but they are hard to find here, even with 25% non muslims in Egypt.

I did, however, search for maps and images….thinking maybe a clue will be hidden in an image that will help me in my quest for the actual location.

Finally, I found it.  An actual picture of the parting of the Red Sea, taken by satellite from hundreds of miles in space.  My questions and doubts have been erased, with technology, logic and fact.

Parting of the Red Sea, as seen from space.

I am just sayin’………..