Discover Port Sudan: History on the Red Sea

The Italian cargo ship Umbria was scuttled in the shallow waters off Port Sudan in June 1940. This precisely dated event is a notable historical landmark for the destination.

Suakin, a historic port city

Suakin lies close to Port Sudan and offers a second, longer perspective on the history of the Red Sea. For centuries, Suakin was the Red Sea’s main port and the embarkation point for pilgrims travelling to Mecca, until Port Sudan replaced it after 1905. Suakin’s abandoned coral houses are slowly deteriorating, adding an architectural aspect to the port’s history. The Umbria is regularly ranked among the world’s best wreck dives. Together, they represent different timescales: Suakin’s long-standing role as a port and the single shipwreck event off Port Sudan.

Reefs and islands in Al-Bahr Al-Ahmar

The broader Al-Bahr Al-Ahmar destination includes reef and coastal landscapes with diverse features. Sanganeb Reef comprises 13 distinct biophysiographic reef zones, each with typical coral reef communities. It is home to more than 300 fish species, including many endemic and rare species. Sanganeb Marine National Park was Sudan’s first marine protected area.

Sanganeb Island stretches 6 kilometres from north to south, is 2 kilometres wide, and contains three inland lagoons. There are also around 124 reef groups in Sanganeb Marine National Park. The coral reef communities and fish species highlight its biodiversity, while the measurements and inland lagoons describe the geography of Sanganeb Island.

Another protected area in the broader destination is Dungonab Bay–Mukkawar Island Marine National Park, which covers approximately 2,808 square kilometres. The protected areas have different points of focus: Sanganeb Marine National Park is notable, among other things, for its reef groups and historic designation; here, the approximate area is the relevant measure for Dungonab Bay–Mukkawar Island Marine National Park. In Al-Bahr Al-Ahmar, Dungonab Bay–Mukkawar Island Marine National Park includes around 13 islands, including Mukur Island, Umm Qurs, Masharif, and Jabal al-Dud.

Coastal landscapes and habitats

In the broader Al-Bahr Al-Ahmar destination, Khour Shanaab is a long, fjord-like coastal inlet. It winds inland for several kilometres between desert hills. Its sheltered, calm waters support seagrass meadows and mangroves. In the broader Al-Bahr Al-Ahmar destination, Khour Wais is part of a mosaic of coastal inlets, mangroves, and mudflats that gives Dungonab Bay its exceptional diversity of habitats.

The two coastal descriptions emphasise different features: Khour Shanaab is defined by its fjord-like shape and sheltered waters, while Khour Wais is characterised by its mosaic of mangroves, mudflats, and coastal inlets. Thus, alongside reefs, various coastal landscapes and habitats are among the natural features of the broader Al-Bahr Al-Ahmar destination.

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