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 Fact Monster Information Please® Database, © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. |