Red Sea

(The), or ARABIAN GULF, a long, narrow, but deep arm of the Indian Ocean, constituting the great dividing water-channel bet. N.E. Africa and the Arabian peninsula, and connecting with the Mediterranean on the N.by the Suez Canal (q. v.), and on the S. with the Gulf of Aden by the Straits ofBab-el-Mandeb. Its shores are very generally naked and sterile; its waters of a high temperature; and its navigation dangerous on account of the many coral-reefs and islets of volcanic formation which fringe its coasts. It extends 1,400 m. from N. to S., and is 230 m. broad at the widest part. [s. 758]