Is the Red Sea red?

Updated July 24, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

The Question:

Is the Red Sea red? If so, why?

The Answer:

Of course it's not actually red, but sometimes it appears that way. Located between the East African coast and the Saudi Arabian peninsula, the Red Sea got its name because of a type of algae called Trichodesmium erythraeum, which is found in the sea. When these blooms of algae die off they appear to turn the blue-green color of the ocean to a reddish-brown.

Follow this link to learn more about the World's Largest Oceans and Seas.

-The Editors

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