Ras Muhammad National Park
View of coral reef in Ras Mohammad (2004)
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| Nearest city | Sharm El Sheikh |
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| Coordinates | 27°43′20″N 34°15′14″E / 27.72222°N 34.25389°ECoordinates: 27°43′20″N 34°15′14″E / 27.72222°N 34.25389°E |
| Area | 480 km² |
| Established | 1983 |
Ras Mohammad (Egyptian Arabic: راس محمد Rās Maḥammad , IPA: [ɾɑːs mæˈħæmmæd]; Arabic: رأس محمد Raʼs Muḥammad ) is a national park in Egypt at the southern extreme of the Sinai Peninsula, overlooking the Gulf of Suez on the west and the Gulf of Aqaba to the east.
When the Sinai Peninsula was returned to Egypt, Ras Muhammad was declared for protection from fishing and other human activities. Some of the fishing methods, such as using dynamite and knives also were impacting the coral reef and the fish populations. In 1983, the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) established the area as a marine reserve for the protection of marine and terrestrial wildlife. The park was also established to protect against urban sprawl from Sharm El Sheikh and other coastal development. The name literally means "Mohammad's Head", where "head" in this instance means "headland". There is a saying in the area that the name arose because in side view the contour of the cliff looks like the of a bearded man's face, with horizontal hard strata providing the nose and bearded chin.
The park is situated in the tourist region of the Red Sea Riviera, located 12 km from the city of Sharm El Sheikh. The park spans an area of 480 km², including 135 km² of surface land area and 345 km² area over water. Marsa Bareika is a small bay inlet in Ras Mohammed, and Marsa Ghozlani is a very small inlet located across from the park visitors center.
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Wikipedia