Front portion of a neighboring yacht along with others off the coast of Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt

Sharm el Sheikh is a tourist town located near the southern tip of the Sinai peninsula in Egypt, off the Red Sea. The Red Sea is one of the prime tourist attractions of the area, with the coral formations providing a colorful marine attraction along with the colorful and variety of fish that are found in such locations. Sharm is a fairly recent tourist location; in the 1950's, the strategic location of the town meant that it was an Egyptian naval base. The overall strategic location of the Sinai peninsula meant that it always became a target in the wars that of the region and was twice conquered in wars (in the 1956 and 1973 wars, but was then returned to Egypt in 1957 and 1982 as part of peace settlements). As a part of the tourist attraction, there are a large number of tourists who arrive at this location looking for sun, water, and scuba diving or snorkeling. To take tourists to these watery locations, there are a number of these yachts and small ships that set out from the port and carry tourists in some amount of comfort. This photo was taken in such a ship, taken of the adjoining yacht and numerous other such ships in the region. In the distance, you can see the shoreline and the small hills that dot the horizon.

Sharm El Sheikh (New Millennium Collection: North Africa)	View Larger Map