Fantastic Sinai Desert (Egypt). Sinai Desert: description, area, interesting facts Sinai Peninsula why is so named

Sinai peninsula is a separate geographical unit and lies between two continents - Africa and Eurasia, being separated from the first by the Gulf of Suez, and from the second by the Eilat or Aqaba. An almost equilateral triangle is connected by land with both continents, except for the man-made Suez Canal, the construction of which began in 1859. The Sinai area is 61,000 square kilometers, the coast of the Eilat and Suez Gulfs is just over 300 kilometers each, the coast Mediterranean Sea- a little more than 200. Climatically, it is a mountainous desert zone, with a very small number of water sources and precipitation, not exceeding 20 - 40 millimeters per year, with the exception of its Mediterranean coast.

The northern part of the Sinai is, for the most part, sand dunes, and the southern one is mountainous, the highest mountains of the peninsula are located in the center of its southern part. The highest point of the region is Mount Moses (Sinai), which rises 2,600 meters above sea level. The flora and fauna are quite poor, which cannot be said about the various animals, the flora and fauna of Sinai are typically desert. Natural landscapes here they are beautiful and unusual, especially for those who love the desert - it is not for nothing that one of the valleys here is called Lunar (it is clearly visible from the Israeli side from the observation deck of Mount Hizkiyahu).

There were practically no settled settlements on the Sinai Peninsula, only nomadic Bedouin tribes, whose way of life has not changed for many millennia. In ancient times, Sinai was an independent zone within the sphere of interest ancient egypt... During the time of King Solomon (10th century BC), it was fully or partially controlled by the Jews. In all other historical periods, it was part, subordinate or independent, of the rulers of Cairo and Alexandria. In Hellenistic times, on the Mediterranean coast of Sinai stood greek city- the port of Rinokorur, the name of which translates as "torn nose", since it was mainly convicts who lived and worked here. Now on this place is the Egyptian city of El-Arish.

Many conquerors - Muslims, Byzantines and Crusaders - passed through the peninsula. The sands of Sinai remember Napoleon, who passed its northern coast in 1799 during the Egyptian Campaign. From the 13th century, it belonged first to the Mamelukes, and then to the Turkish Ottoman Empire, until in 1917 during the First World War the peninsula was captured by British troops.

After the end of the British mandate for Palestine, the territory of the Sinai Peninsula began to serve as a base for the Egyptian army and a springboard for terrorists who constantly violated the borders of the newly formed state of Israel. Since the Egyptian army also actively participated in the attacks on Israel, in order to defend itself, in 1955 - 1956, the Israeli army conducted the so-called Sinai campaign or operation "Kadesh", as a result of which the peninsula was in the hands of Israel, which in 1957 retreated to its old borders.

However, Egypt again used Sinai as a staging ground for war preparations and in 1967, during the Six Day War, the Israeli army re-entered the peninsula. At the end of this war, Israel decided not to return Sinai to Egypt and Jewish settlements began to be built here. By the end of the 70s, there were more than a dozen settlements and the city of Yamit on the Sinai. The peninsula also became a theater of war during the Yom Kippur War, when it served the Israeli army well as a staging area and military base.

As a result of the coming to power in Egypt of the progressive President Anwar Sadat, in 1980, part of the territory was transferred by Israel to Egypt, and in 1982, as a result of the treaties concluded at Camp David between Sadat and Menachem Begin, the Prime Minister of Israel, the entire Sinai Peninsula again passed under the jurisdiction of Egypt and all Jewish settlements here were destroyed. In 1989, Israel handed over to Egypt the last 8-kilometer stretch of the Red Sea coast near the village of Taba. Under the Camp David Treaties, Sinai became partly a visa-free zone. Now anyone who has a foreign passport of any country, right at the checkpoint, having paid a relatively small amount, receives a visa for 14 days, which allows him to travel along the Eilat coast of Sinai to its very south point or drive inland to Mount Sinai and the Santa Caterina Monastery.

Today, there are three resorts here, founded in the days when the Sinai Peninsula still belonged to Israel - Nueiba, Dahab and Sharm al-Sheikh. Perhaps the most developed and civilized Sharm al-Sheikh, located at the southernmost tip of the peninsula. Nueiba is an hour's drive from the Taba border crossing, Dahab is 2.5 hours away and Sharm al-Sheikh is about 4 hours away. Here you can travel by your own car, having paid for its transportation across the border, either by Bedouin taxis, old and without air conditioning, or by regular buses, which also do not have air conditioning and run quite rarely. Today, almost any currency is freely accepted here, including shekels, and many local Bedouins speak Hebrew or, much worse, English language.

In the northernmost part of the Eilat coast of Sinai, 8 kilometers from the Israeli border, there is also the Pharaonic Island - Jezirat Pharaoh with the reconstructed 12th century Saladin fortress on it. This island consists mainly of corals, therefore its second name is Coral Island. It is only a few hundred meters from the coast and can be reached by paying a few local pounds to the carrier. There is a beautiful fiord close by between the island and the border.

The most interesting and attractive point of the Sinai Peninsula is Mount Sinai, which is also Mount Moses, on which the Master Moses received stone tablets with the Ten Commandments and the text of the Torah (the Mosaic Pentateuch) from which the entire Jewish religious tradition comes (Exodus 19-34).

The modern definition of Mount Sinai, by which, in fact, the entire peninsula is named, is Christian and made in Byzantine times and is not accepted by the Jewish tradition. Here, at the foot of the mountain, according to only the Christian tradition, there was a story with a burning bush that Moses saw (Exodus 3: 2) and with the extraction of water from a rock (Exodus 17: 6). Travelers and pilgrims usually climb Mount Sinai at night to see the stunning sunrise from the highest point of the peninsula. The ascent along a good path takes 4 - 5 hours, but part of the way up you can ride Bedouin camels, of course for a fee.

There is a small abandoned chapel at the top of the mountain, local Bedouins make coffee and tea and offer various souvenirs. At the foot of the mountain is one of the most beautiful monasteries in the world - Santa Caterina, where you can also enter at certain hours. Monastery of Santa Caterina , the smallest diocese in the world and at the same time one of the oldest active Christian monasteries, has a rich collection of icons and priceless manuscripts. The chronicles report that Helen, the mother of Emperor Constantine, was so impressed by the sanctity of these places that in 330 she ordered the installation of a small chapel on the spot where there was a burning bush of thorns and dedicated it to St. Virgin Mary.

Over the next years, on the one hand, the ever-growing attention of Christianity to the monastery brought it enrichment at the expense of more and more donations from clergy, on the other hand, this led to a number of raids and murders by the nomadic tribes of the desert. These bloody raids on monks and hermits continued until the 6th century, when Emperor Justinian in 530 ordered the establishment of a much larger basilica, which became the Church of the Transfiguration. This was right after the monastery acquired the form of a massive fortress that characterizes it even today. In order to protect the monks from possible invasions, Justinian actually erected a real fort around the church. In 640, after the conquest of Egypt by the Arabs, the monastery became a stronghold of Christianity in the boundless world of Islam.

According to tradition, Muhammad personally bestowed his patronage on a delegation of monks who went to see the prophet. A copy of the document certifying this protection can still be seen in the monastery today. In 726, in connection with the growing wave of iconoclasm in Orthodoxy, Emperor Leo III ordered the destruction of all images in Christian communities. Due to its considerable remoteness, the Santa Caterina Monastery was the only one that managed to keep its huge priceless artistic fiefdom intact. Peace and stability continued to reign in the monastery even during the turbulent Crusader period. The war for the liberation of the holy places contributed to the visit of the monastery by important persons: Henry II of Brunswick, Philip of Artois, as well as the Duke of Austria Albert. All subsequent centuries, the monastery witnessed the arrival of travelers attracted by the charm of the biblical places, without fear of facing numerous dangers and inconveniences on the way to this country. The most daring ventured to climb the holy mountains. These first tourists came from almost every country in Europe: British, French, Germans, Dutch, and they left their names on the walls of buildings.

During Napoleon's brief adventure in Egypt, the scholars who accompanied his army and described Sinai were mostly French. Subsequently, this led to an increasing number of travelers, especially artists and writers from France. The 19th century brought with it, besides other things, a new understanding of travel, and tourism in the modern sense began to be One word of advice: whoever went to the Holy Land had to include visits to Sinai and Santa Caterina in their itinerary. The tourist development of this zone continues to this day. Today, the construction of convenient paved roads, the construction of well-equipped hotels and, later, a small airport, has led more and more tourist groups to choose this remote place, untouched by the modern world, as their destination for their travels. Until today, the monastery belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church, and most of the monks who live here are Greeks, here they are guided by the rule established by St. Basil the Great, Bishop of Caesarea, who lived in the years 329-379.

The abbot of the monastery is elected by four archimandrites and approved by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, who is one of the six ecumenical (ecumenical) Orthodox patriarchs (Rome, Moscow, Alexandria, Constantinople and Antioch). Like the Archbishop of Sinai, the abbot wears a miter and crown and wears a scepter and a gold cross. The monastery is open from 9:00 to 12:00 except Friday, Sunday and Christian Orthodox holidays. They are allowed inside only in modest clothes, in no case in shorts, shoulders and legs should be covered.

Sinai peninsula(Arabic: شبه جزيرة سيناء, Sina; Hebrew סיני) is a peninsula in the Red Sea, on the border between Asia and Africa, part of the territory of Egypt. Geographically it belongs to Asia.

Geography

The wedge-shaped peninsula sharpened to the south is bounded in the north by the Mediterranean coast or by a line connecting the northern extremities of the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba; from the west - the Gulf of Suez, from the east - the Gulf of Aqaba. Since the boundaries of the peninsula are conditional, its territory, depending on the method of determination, is estimated in the range from 25 thousand to 61 thousand km². Basically, the territory is occupied by desert, closer to the south there are mountains (the most high point this is Mount St. Catherine, 2637 m) and plateaus. Oil fields have been discovered on the peninsula, and turquoise has also traditionally been mined.

Climate

The climate of almost the entire Sinai Peninsula is tropical desert, with the exception of the northern part, adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea, where the Mediterranean climate is characteristic. The climate is very dry everywhere, especially in the south of the peninsula, which is closed by mountains from the inflow of rare cyclones from the north, and where in some years there is no precipitation at all, and a few millimeters on average fall a year, as in Sharm el-Sheikh. Summer temperatures are very high, usually reaching + 40 ° C or more in the shade, winter temperatures are lower, and night frosts are not uncommon in deserts. The south of the peninsula, heated by the Red Sea, has the warmest winters.

Story

The land of the peninsula was reclaimed by the ancient Egyptians back in the era of the First Dynasty.

Since 2011, Islamist militants have become more active on the peninsula (see Conflict in Sinai).

In 2015, on October 31, an airplane flying from Sharm el-Sheikh (Ophira airport) - St. Petersburg (Pulkovo airport) crashed over Sinai. 224 people died.

Ecology

The Sinai coast is on the brink of ecological disaster. The dominance of tourism, fishing, and the widespread urbanization of the coast leave little chance of maintaining this unique corner planets. Scientists estimate that most of the reefs will disappear from the face of the Earth in the next decade.

There are many reasons for the widespread death of corals. First of all, this is the clogging of the pores of the coral with sand, vandalism of vacationers, an increase in the temperature of the water and its acidity. Corals are most damaged by off-road vehicles, which destroy a thin layer of lichens and stones. This leads to soil erosion and more frequent sandstorms bringing tons of sand and dust to the sea. Sand, blown by the wind or lifted from the bottom by divers' flippers, clogs the pores of the coral and leads to its death. The greenhouse effect and global warming are no less dangerous for corals. The rise in water temperature above +29 ° C causes the coral to expel the algae. At these temperatures, the algae becomes toxic to the coral. An orphaned coral cannot survive long and starves to death. Harmless feeding of coral fish changes their diet, thereby upsetting the ecological balance. Water blooms, bursts of coral-eating starfish populations are only a small part of the consequences of such a disruption.

The littering of the coasts has assumed catastrophic proportions in recent years. One of the expeditions from Dahab to Sharm el-Sheikh found that the most littered area is the northern Nabek protected area. Beach vacationers aren't the only source of plastic waste. There is plenty of evidence of rubbish being dumped openly from boats and ferries. It is difficult for the Bedouin to understand that the plastic they throw away is harmful to the environment. For generations they have dealt only with organics, and this behavior is still considered the norm. Bedouins to this day fish in the reserves and catch shellfish. South of Dahab, entire coasts are covered with pierced shells. Shells are taken in shallow waters during high tide. Sometimes entire villages flock to the coast to feast on shellfish. Study environmental education there is no one in Egypt. The country is on the wave of a tourist boom and is trying to squeeze the maximum benefit from its sea coasts.

Exodus of anatomically modern humans from Africa

According to the hypothesis of the British pediatrician S. Oppenheimer, about 120 thousand years ago (during the Eem (Ipswich) interglacial (English)Russian) Homo sapiens made an exodus from Africa through the Sinai Peninsula to the Levant, but these representatives of anatomically modern people completely died out there during the next ice age, and all non-African peoples descended from several hundred people who crossed the Bab al-Mandeb Strait about 80 thousand years ago, some of which about 50 thousand years ago returned to North Africa through the Sinai. According to scientists from the University of Tübingen (Germany), the first wave of people modern type, which became the ancestor of the Australian aborigines, Papuans and Melanesians, forced the Bab el-Mandeb Strait about 130 thousand years ago, and other Asian populations are descendants of the second wave of Homo sapiens, which emerged from Africa north of the Red Sea about 50 thousand years ago.

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Notes (edit)

Literature

• Chichagov V.P. Sinai Desert and Ancient Pelusius // Nature. - 2012. - No. 11. - S. 35-42.
• Matthew Teague. New Sinai // National Geographic Russia, July 2009, p. 120-137.

Links

• by Haubitz, Zoche Publisher: Fotohof Editions, 2006 (English) ISBN 3-901756-64-7 ISBN 978-3-901756-64-1

Excerpt from the Sinai Peninsula

An hour after this, Dunyasha came to the princess with the news that Dron had come and all the peasants, by order of the princess, gathered at the barn, wanting to talk with the mistress.
- Yes, I never called them, - said Princess Marya, - I just told Dronushka to give them bread.
- Only for God's sake, princess mother, order them to drive away and do not go to them. All the deception is the same, - said Dunyasha, - and Yakov Alpatych will come, and we will go ... and you will not please ...
- What kind of deception? - asked the princess in surprise
- Yes, I know, just listen to me, for God's sake. At least ask the nanny. They say they do not agree to leave at your order.
- You say something wrong. Yes, I never gave orders to leave ... - said Princess Mary. - Call Dronushka.
Dron who arrived confirmed Dunyasha's words: the peasants came by order of the princess.
- Yes, I never called them, - said the princess. “You probably didn’t tell them that way. I just told you to give them the bread.
The drone sighed without answering.
“If you tell them to, they’ll leave,” he said.
- No, no, I'll go to them, - said Princess Marya
Despite Dunyasha and the nanny's dissuasion, Princess Marya went out onto the porch. Dron, Dunyasha, nanny and Mikhail Ivanovich followed her. “They probably think that I am offering them bread so that they remain in their places, and I myself will leave, leaving them to the mercy of the French,” thought Princess Mary. - I will promise them a month in an apartment near Moscow; I am sure that Andre would have done even more in my place, ”she thought, walking in the twilight to the crowd standing on the pasture near the barn.
The crowd stirred, crowding, and the hats were quickly removed. Princess Marya, lowering her eyes and tangling her legs in her dress, came close to them. So many different old and young eyes were fixed on her and there were so many different faces that Princess Marya did not see a single face and, feeling the need to speak suddenly with everyone, did not know what to do. But again the knowledge that she was the representative of her father and brother gave her strength, and she boldly began her speech.
“I’m very glad that you came,” Princess Marya began, without looking up and feeling how quickly and strongly her heart was beating. - Dronushka told me that the war ruined you. This is our common grief, and I will spare nothing to help you. I myself am going, because it is already dangerous here and the enemy is close ... because ... I give you everything, my friends, and I ask you to take everything, all our bread, so that you have no need. And if you were told that I am giving you bread so that you stay here, then this is not true. On the contrary, I ask you to leave with all your property to our Moscow region, and there I take it upon myself and promise you that you will not need it. You will be given both houses and bread. The princess stopped. There were only sighs in the crowd.

Today, the territory of the Sinai Peninsula is almost entirely owned by Egypt. Only a small part of it belongs to Israel and the Gaza Strip. In the northeast, armed conflicts continue between the Egyptian government and Islamists, who organize terrorist attacks and attacks on Egyptian security forces. Sometimes they spread to the border areas of Israel and the Gaza Strip.

South sinai- a prosperous territory, well known all over the world for its resorts: Sharm el-Sheikh, Nuweiba, Taba, Dahab, etc.

North sinai remains an unstable area of ​​the peninsula. This is due to the poverty of the population living here, the regular routes of smugglers and the general economic backwardness. Low living standards have also led to an environmental disaster associated with the massive pollution of the Sinai coast with plastic waste. It was here that Islamists and terrorist groups became more active, taking the local population under their influence.

It is considered the most important strategic part of the Egyptian state. It attaches great importance to the history and culture of the world.

Location of the Sinai Peninsula (Et-Tih)

Sinai resembles a wedge-shaped shape that is surrounded by: the Mediterranean Sea, the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba. The main part (Et-Tikh plateau) of the Sinai Peninsula is covered with desert. The highest point of the desert is Mount St. Catherine (2637 m). East of the territory where the desert of the Sinai Peninsula is located, there is

Natural and climatic characteristics of the peninsula

Sinai is translated as "rocky". This name is reflected in the nature of the area. The Sinai Desert is made up of endless sand, quaint mountains, rocks, valleys, sinkholes and canyons.

Precipitation in this endless desert does not exceed 100 mm. They mainly seep through the sand, which is reflected in the small distance of groundwater from the surface (several meters).

The Sinai Desert is part of the Arabian Floristic Region, which determines the character of the local flora. The rocky Et-Tikh plateau is mostly devoid of vegetation. Sometimes in the channels of the wadi, you can find such plants as anabasis, articulated barnyard, prickly zilla.

In the western and northern parts of the Sinai Peninsula, there are sandy ergs, where you can find retam shrubs, aristides, oats. On the stone part of this territory, winged ephedra, hairy thymus and wormwood are sometimes found. Acacias and tamariks grow on the bottoms of the wadi, which forms a sweet juice. Among the endless massifs of sand, you can find lakes and swamps.

Fauna Sinai Desert represented by small rodents (they are called gerbils), which dig holes, unite in colonies. There are also jerboas, common gazelle, Nubian goat, fenech and other animals. More recently, a large jackal was discovered here, which usually lives in northern Africa.

Birds are represented here mainly by the passerine family. In wadi beds, these are, for example, a stove, larks, desert sparrow. In mountainous areas, there are chickens, crows, golden eagles and vultures.

Sinai Desert: Description of the Environmental Problem

Due to the fact that there is a huge tourist influx on the Sinai Peninsula, the rapid development of industry and city construction, the ecology of Sinai is in serious danger: sea corals are dying in huge numbers. This is due to the fact that the temperature begins to rise critically, the corals are clogged with sand. And sadly, the environmental situation was influenced by the massive vandalism of tourists who break off "pieces of Egypt" - corals for themselves. The authorities of the state took tough measures to suppress such actions on the part of travelers: a fine for spoiling coral was introduced in the amount of $ 100.

Sinai Desert: the first world fame

In history, Sinai gained worldwide fame thanks to the mountain of Moses, which is of great importance to Christians. Here God came down to Moses and gave him ten commandments. Until today, it is not known where this mountain of the same name is located. The Bible gives her various names. From the IV century. Mount Sinai is considered Mount Moses, near the base of which a monastery was erected, dedicated to St. Catherine.

Traditions: yesterday and today

The Sinai Desert has long been especially revered in the Egyptian state, its history has deep roots. Numerous traditional rituals have survived to this day, in which even tourists can participate. But new ones have appeared, for example, you can take part at night in the ascent of Mount Moses in order to meet the sunrise at its top. This ceremony appeared relatively recently. It is associated with the peak of the influx of tourists to Egypt. They get to the top of the mountain at night along a long path, when the sun's rays are not yet scorching, but descend in the morning along a short path. In the XVII century. Wallachian boyar Mihai Katakuzino even built a monastery in Russia called "Sinai" after he visited the monastery of St. Catherine.

The Egyptians, more than 5 thousand years ago, mastered the territory of the Sinai Peninsula, on which many monuments of various epochs of historical significance have been preserved. A significant fact in the history of Sinai is that in 1979 a peace treaty was concluded between the Egyptian and Israeli states, according to which Sinai was returned to Egypt.

Bedouin riddle

For many, the Sinai Desert is associated with a lifeless and dull terrain, where occasionally small oases come across. This is a common representation of this territory in most people. Here, all living things are fighting for their right to exist. But here a curious paradox arises - if the average life span in many countries is about sixty years, then the Bedouins living in the desert are eighty years old. Thus, the Bedouin way of life has completely adapted to the desert environment. Only now there are no people who want to settle in the desert area.

Origin of names

For example, the term "oasis" is derived from the Greek word Uasis, which, in turn, is from the Egyptian word Uit, which denotes the name of several Egyptian settlements along the middle reaches of the Nile. That is, the term "oasis" the Egyptians designated a site located in the middle of the desert, which has favorable conditions for life.

With the interpretation of the desert, everything is clearer than the clear - it is empty and it is empty. This is where the question arises that this word is of Slavic origin, because it means an empty space. Then what did the local population call the desert? The Arabs gave the desert such a name, which means a place where there is no one but Allah. And one saying among the Arabs says that the desert is the garden of God, from where he removed all people in order to be alone with himself.

A little about the Bedouins of the Sinai Desert

At the moment, the Bedouins also live in tents, which can be easily folded and loaded onto camels in order to continue to wander on the endless sands, since the area of ​​the Sinai Desert allows this. According to recently updated data, its area is almost 61 thousand km 2. From the north to the south, its length reaches 370 km, and from east to west, it stretches for 210 km. Occasionally found permanent structures are referred to as "tourism infrastructure". And the Bedouins themselves are not averse to making money on travelers. Many of them even have a mobile phone in their possession, but they are not yet ready for a radical change in their lifestyle. The most important source of income for the Bedouins is, of course, camels, which can be used by travelers.

Bedouins use desalinated seawater for drinking, which is not of very high quality. This led to the fact that recently they were almost the only indigenous inhabitants of this endless desert area. At the moment, indigenous people are very rare in Sharm el-Sheikh. Here, mainly those who came to work live.

What attracts tourists to the Sinai Desert?

Of course, people accustomed to forests, fields and rivers are attracted here by the exotic terrain of the desert, its mysterious oases. The Sinai Desert is full of many mysteries that remain to be solved. She has such Beautiful places, saturated with bright colors, from which sometimes dazzle in the eyes. Tourists do not put their cameras away even for a second, as their gaze is presented with gorgeous landscapes. On the way, they come across scattered Bedouin camps where they can ride camels. Of course, in some places the road is very dangerous, but this only makes the journey to the Sinai Desert more colorful.

Geography and Geology

The Sinai Peninsula, better known simply as Sinai (Arabic: شبه جزيرة سيناء, Shibh Jazirat Sina) has the shape of a wedge, pointed to the south, bounded in the north by the Mediterranean coast, in the west by the Gulf of Suez, and in the east by the Gulf of Aqaba. Since the boundaries of the peninsula are conditional, its territory, depending on the method of determination, is estimated to be in the range from 25 thousand to 60 thousand km². Basically, the territory is occupied by desert, closer to the south there are mountains (the highest point is Mount St. Catherine, 2637 m) and plateaus. Oil fields have been discovered on the peninsula, and turquoise has also traditionally been mined.

Traveling around Sinai, you can find yourself in three countries - Egypt, Jordan and Israel. They are all in close proximity to each other. Average journey time is 2-3 hours.

The main attraction of the Sinai Peninsula is its beautiful and majestic fauna - the coral reefs of the Red Sea. A wide barrier reef stretches along the entire coast of the Sinai, making it very popular place diving among divers around the world.

Wolves, hyenas, foxes, mountain goats, gazelles and eagles live in the deserts of the Sinai Peninsula.

Climate and weather

Tropical desert. The temperature in summer is 35-40 ° С (which, due to the dry air, feels like 26-28 ° С in Moscow), in winter - 23-26 ° С. Here 365 sunny days in the year, in winter and autumn, it is cloudy, but the sun is visible every day. Dahab, located on the east coast of the Sinai Peninsula, is considered a year-round resort. The wind is 300 days a year, which leads to the rapid development of windsurfing and kitesurfing in the region. Water temperature - from 21-22 ° С in January to 28-29 ° С in July and August. The frequency of ebb and flow is about 6 hours.

The indigenous inhabitants of the Sinai Desert are Bedouins. The word "Bedouin" comes from the Arabic يود ب badawi - "inhabitant of the desert (steppe)", "nomad". Usually this term is used to refer to the entire population of the Arab world, which leads a nomadic lifestyle, regardless of their nationality or religion. According to modern science, Bedouins have lived in the desert for at least 4-5 thousand years.

Bedouins differ in their national traditions and a culture that sometimes goes against the Arab foundations. Formally, the Bedouins are Muslims, but, nevertheless, they still follow many pagan customs and beliefs traditional for their tribes, and all disputes, conflicts and problems are resolved according to their own Bedouin law - Urfa. The first law of the Bedouin is hospitality. They are excellent guides and without them it would be impossible to see those natural beauties that are far from the highways. They know desert grasses well and determine their path by unknown signs.

Bedouin life has undergone many changes over the past 30 years, one of which is that Jeep SUVs have replaced camels almost everywhere. vehicle but fortunately the Bedouin culture in the Sinai has remained largely unchanged. Almost all Bedouins live in the north of Dahab - in the Assal region, the main bay of the once Bedouin village.

Bedouin men and women have traditionally played different roles in society. Bedouin men tend to make a living for their families. Today, some of them work as safari guides, drivers, some own shops, some are involved in construction or in the service sector. Women work mainly in the home, busy with household chores, family and livestock of goats, sheep and camels.

Bedouins have an amazing gift for storytelling and can tell you numerous stories about "what happened in ancient times." Most of the stories are unusual stories about the behavior of camels, about miraculous treatment. medicinal herbs that they use in their family. Many Bedouins have a veritable poetic talent, often using it for special occasions such as weddings.

Since time immemorial, Sinai, sometimes figuratively called "24 thousand square miles of void", has been one of the largest crossroads in the world. Since ancient times, the peninsula served as a transit route from Africa to Asia, from Europe to Indian Ocean and to the Far East, was a bridge between the Mediterranean and the Red Seas. In the XVI century. BC. egyptian pharaohs built a road leading through Sinai to Beersheba (Bathsheba) and further to Jerusalem. The "Great Sea Route", which connected the Nile Valley with Mesopotamia, ran along the Mediterranean coast of the peninsula.

The sands of Sinai remember Napoleon, who passed its northern coast in 1799 during the Egyptian campaign. From the 13th century, it belonged first to the Mamelukes, and then to the Turkish Ottoman Empire, until in 1917, during the First World War, the peninsula was captured by British troops.

In 1967, the Israelis conquered the peninsula as a result of the Six Day War; The Suez Canal has closed.

In 1973, the Egyptians crossed the Suez Canal and attacked Israel. Israel pushed Egyptian troops back. Later, Israel withdrew its troops west of the canal.

In 1979, after the signing of the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty, Israel begins to gradually return the peninsula to Egypt, while dismantling most their settlements, and the rest went to Egypt (for example, the settlement of Ophira in the south of the peninsula became the current Sharm el-Sheikh).

Egypt

The local currency is the Egyptian pound. One pound contains 100 piastres. They can be freely exchanged for dollars and other convertible currencies at banks and exchange offices, which are usually located at airports, hotels, large restaurants, etc. 1 US dollar costs about 6 Egyptian pounds (exchange rate varies). Coins are 5, 10, 25 piastres. Banknotes are in denominations of 10, 25 and 50 piastres, and pounds are in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 500, 1000. Be careful when you receive change when shopping, because 50 piastres and 50 pounds bills are very similar!

Credit cards and travelers checks are widely used in large tourist centers... There are many ATMs and they are quite common in all retail outlets. However, in the provinces, the use of electronic means of payment is extremely difficult.

Israel

The official currency of Israel is the New Shekel (NIS), and the Hebrew plural is "shkalim". One shekel is equal to 100 agorot, the singular is "agora". Now in Israel in circulation there are banknotes in 200, 100, 50 and 20 shekels, coins in denominations of 1, 5 and 10 shekels, as well as 50, 10 and 5 agorot.

Credit cards from the world's leading payment systems are accepted almost everywhere. ATMs are widespread. Many ATMs allow you to withdraw cash in foreign currency. International credit cards and traveller's checks can also be cashed at foreign exchange offices of banks without commissions.

Jordan

The monetary unit is the Jordanian dinar. 1 dinar = 1000 fils. The Jordanian Dinar is sibdivided into 100 Kirsch and 1000 Fils. Weighted average exchange rate - 1USD = 0.7JOD

Currency exchange can be carried out at banks, hotels, special exchange offices, as well as at the borders and at the airport.

Payment for goods and services usually takes place in dinars.

The shops

Shops in Egypt are usually open until 10 pm. If a price is set for the product, then bargaining is pointless. If not, the price can be reduced by 10-20%, and sometimes even more.

Souvenirs.

Egypt has a huge variety of souvenirs. There is no more Egyptian souvenir than colored papyrus. Papyri are inexpensive, durable, lightweight and easy to transport. It should be noted that Egypt is flooded with cheap fakes - made of rice paper and stamped banana leaves, so you should buy papyri only in specialized stores, the so-called "papyrus museums", where quality certificates are issued. Throughout Sinai, coinage is very popular with tourists - plates with Arabic patterns or artistically decorated hookahs. You can also buy herbal oils and essences.

Sinai's business card is a T-shirt with a diver or windsurfer depicted on it with the inscription Surf ever, work never.

In Egypt, Israel and Jordan, the time is one hour behind Moscow

Communication and Internet

If you use the Roaming service, SIM cards of MTS, Beeline and Megafon operators are connected to the local operator in all places visited by tourists.

When talking from a pay phone on the street, 1 minute of conversation with Russia costs about 60 rubles, at a telephone booth about 100, and from a hotel - 150 rubles. The minimum duration of calls from public booths or from a hotel is 3 minutes. The account starts from the third ring, the money is charged even if the call is not answered. A card is required to use a pay phone. They are usually sold in "small supermarkets", at bus stations, etc. A twenty-pound card is enough for about 6-8 minutes of conversation with Moscow, but if there is less than a certain amount (about 5 pounds) on it, then it can only be used for local calls. There are cards for 10, 50 pounds. International code Russia 007, then you need to dial the area code and subscriber number.

Electricity

In Egypt, the mains voltage is 220V. European type sockets.

Border crossing rules

Due to the fact that the Sinai Peninsula is divided between three states, traveling here, you are likely to cross borders. And in each case there are nuances.

Egypt - Israel

If you want to cross the border between Egypt and Israel while on the Sinai Peninsula, it will be very easy to do. It is enough to come to Taba (180 km from Sharm el-Sheikh).

Resting in Taba, you fall under the jurisdiction of Egypt, but the proximity to the border of Israel gives every chance to combine one at the same time in two countries.

Here you should take into account the nuances when crossing the border!

Who shouldn't pay an Israeli exit fee when crossing the border?

First of all, based on the Camp David Agreement between the two countries mentioned, the Taba region is considered a special zone. We are talking about a stretch of land from the border and ending with the Tobya hotel two kilometers to the south. There are at least ten hotels on these two kilometers, where thousands of tourists live. As you know, when leaving Israel, everyone is forced to pay $ 32 border fee. Then, already on the Egyptian side, the tourist is forced to pay 75 pounds ($ 14) entry fee. At the same time, only those who plan to travel outside the aforementioned two-kilometer zone of Taba pay.

In other words, if, say, you live in a Hilton-Taba hotel, then you do not have to pay an exit fee. Even if you cross the border every half hour. To avoid paying this amount, you must provide the border guards with proof that you live in the Taba area. For example, a hotel reservation.

Who should pay £ 75 to enter Egypt?

Only those who plan to stay outside the Taba area pay. The scheme is the same as with the Israeli exit fee. If you live in a hotel near the border, you pay nothing. You will need proof of your hotel reservation or room keys.

When crossing the border with Israel from Egypt, it must be remembered that an additional border fee is charged: 60 shekels for citizens of Russia (Egypt-Israel) and 200 shekels for return (Israel-Egypt) on the Israeli side and 75 pounds on the Egyptian side.

Egypt - Jordan

There are two ways to get to Jordan from Egypt. There is a regular ferry line between the Egyptian town of Nuweiba on the Sinai Peninsula and the Jordanian port of Aqaba. The duration of such a trip is 3-4 hours, the cost is $ 70-80 (depending on the vessel).

Some time ago, a new ferry line opened, Taba - Aqaba. It is much more convenient than Nuweiba - Aqaba. But while this line is used for charter flights ordered by travel agencies, tickets are either not available on the free sale, or their purchase is extremely unpredictable.

Israel - Jordan

It is possible, but not necessary. Better to take a ferry from Egypt. If you really want an original journey, then from the Israeli Eilat you can do it through the "Arava" checkpoint, a ten-minute drive from the city center in the direction Dead Sea... For those who, for one reason or another, are not suitable for the bus departure time, or a fixed return date, they can easily get to one of the border crossings on the public transport, go through the border control, and on the Jordan side, take the frequent and cheap local buses and by route taxis... It should be noted, however, that in order to cross the border directly, you will have to negotiate with one of the bus or truck drivers traveling to Jordan to take you with them when crossing the bridge over the Jordan River, since crossing the border on foot is prohibited. The same rule applies when returning back. When financially calculating the trip, it should be borne in mind that the duty when leaving Israel for Jordan is $ 17 in shekel equivalent.

Health

Officially, vaccinations are not required when Russians travel to Egypt. Some doctors recommend getting vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, typhoid, and polio.

It is necessary to follow the basic rules of personal hygiene. It is recommended to clean your teeth with bottled water because desalinated water comes from the tap.

The standard of living in Egypt has grown rapidly over the past 20 years and continues to grow. Healthcare in Egypt is also moving forward, the country is equipped with new hospitals and modern equipment. Prices for medicines in Egypt are much lower than Russian prices.

Egyptian cuisine in the Sinai.

On the Egyptian side of the Sinai, the cuisine is peculiar and at times, there are such dishes that cannot be found throughout the entire Egyptian territory.

As a rule, when looking for food in Dahab, you first of all find yourself on the famous promenade with numerous Arab-style restaurants. These are Friends, one of the oldest and famous for its friendly atmosphere, Ali Baba with white tablecloths and an atmosphere of a kind of pathos, El Fonar, Nemo, Green Valley, Chillout, Napoleon, Al Capone and others. It is almost impossible to understand the first time how they differ from each other. The truth is, practically nothing. Those. their menu is exactly the same, traditional for this class of restaurants. However, significant differences can be found in prices, service and cooking quality. Moreover, it is curious that in one restaurant one thing can be good, in another - another. One way or another, sitting on the shore, trying traditional dishes, smoking a hookah, feeling the special atmosphere of these establishments is definitely worth it. Not to do this means not to fully visit Dahab.

First, shake off the illusory urge to try Arabic cuisine. She is not in Dahab. For this, it is better to go to Cairo or Alexandria. What the classic restaurants offer to tourists is the modernized tradition of a former Israeli resort. For something truly Arabic, stop by one of the work cafeterias in town and order falafels (pea pancakes) and ful (bean stew). All the Arabs eat it every day for breakfast and it is delicious! In addition, you will get acquainted with non-tourist places and feel their flavor.

Let's go back to the traditional tourist restaurant menus. It consists of several types of main courses: meat, chicken, fish or seafood, grilled or on an open window, always served with rice and french fries, sometimes grilled vegetables, and as a preliminary snack - tortillas and a set of local salads in tiny plates (all included in the price).

This is the main tradition of Israeli cuisine, which was adopted by the Egyptian Sinai - to be served before the main course. a large number of a variety of snacks. Despite the fact that the chefs greatly simplified the cooking technologies and reduced the number of options for snacks (there are 6-7 main ones here, while Israeli catering establishments offer up to 50 types), the tradition is very interesting and pleasant. The main thing is not to overeat too much snacks, so that later the main dish will fit!

Some snacks deserve a separate description: tahina, khomus, babaganush, tzatziki.

They look strange, but you should definitely try them. Tahina is a sesame puree with spices and vegetable oil. Khomus - puree of white peas, chickpeas.

Babaganush is a baked eggplant appetizer often seasoned with tahina. It is cooked differently everywhere. Sometimes it is very tasty, sometimes inedible. Tzatziki is yogurt with grated fresh cucumbers. It tastes very good and cannot be spoiled.

Jordanian cuisine in Sinai

The most favorite dish in Jordan, which, for example, is served to guests at noisy weddings, is mansaf (lamb cooked in sour cream, served on rice with the resulting stew and sprinkled with toasted pine nuts).

But if mansaf is to some extent a festive dish, then adas (yellow lentils with chicken and onions in lemon juice) is a dish that is consumed almost every day. This hearty lentil stew is usually eaten in winter. Another typical Jordanian dish is very interesting - maklyuba, which translates from Arabic as "inverted". The name of the dish is fully consistent with the method of its preparation. Potatoes and eggplants are fried with beef or lamb in a saucepan or pan. Then pre-fried rice is added there, poured with water, salt and spices are added and all this is stewed until tender. Well, then the maklyuba is covered with a large dish and turned over. It turns out meat-potato-rice casserole, served on a large platter with sour cream. Often in Jordanian taverns, they also offer muluhiya - a soup made from meat, chicken or rabbit with garlic, rice and lemon juice. The leaves of various herbs that grow in Arab countries give a special piquancy to the mushroom. An inexpensive dish of Jordanian cuisine is cutlets made from coarsely crushed peas, which are generously greased with thenya (aka tahina), a kind of putty made from the same yellow peas with sesame oil. Thhenya is often consumed with meat or chicken dishes. Our tourists can get acquainted with this seasoning in Israel.

Anyone who tasted sweets made in Jordan invariably came to the conclusion that what is called "oriental sweets" in other Arab countries (with the exception, perhaps, only Syria and Lebanon) are not. Jordan's most popular sweets are made with pistachios (baklava), cheese (canafa), or biscuits sprinkled with sim sim (sesame seeds).

Pay attention to coffee. Many gourmets bring kilos of coffee from Jordan.

Israeli cuisine in the Sinai.

In the kitchen of Israel (he touches all geographical areas) there is one defining principle: the religious Jew eats only kosher food, and only those restaurants that comply with the strict rules of observer rabbis are entitled to exist.

"Kosher" generally means "pure" or "permissible", and the set of rules governing kosher is called kosher. The Three Rules of Kosher There are three basic rules for kosher in the Torah. First: "Do not boil a kid in its mother's milk," therefore meat and milk should not be combined in the same dish and in the stomach. The second rule is related to the prohibition to consume blood, so the cattle are slaughtered in a special way so that all the blood flows out of the animal. According to the third rule, it is allowed to eat only the meat of artiodactyl mammals chewing gum, birds and those marine life that have scales and gills. As a result, it is forbidden to eat pork and camel meat, as well as lobsters and crabs. However, despite all the restrictions, food in Israel is varied and delicious. And those who cannot do without sour cream sauce for beef, they will find a restaurant in Eilat where non-kosher food is prepared.

Israeli cuisine, in addition to kosher, is also distinguished by Arab influence, as well as the use of local spices mentioned in the Bible, which gives originality to the dishes: sesame, cinnamon, mint, coriander. The menu in restaurants is usually written not only in Hebrew, but also in English, and in some places also in Russian.