Stage 3 review

Red Sea
From Africa across the Red Sea to Asia, more precisely, to the Arabian Peninsula. This strategically important sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, measuring 1,900 km in total length and 300 km at it widest point. Known from the Bible as the sea that parted before Moses and enabled the Israelites to escape from Egyptian slavery, in more recent times the Red Sea has come to represent the shortest maritime route from Asia to Europe. For this purpose, the Suez Canal – originally 163 km long, but later expanded – was opened in 1869. Today, the Red Sea is most celebrated among scuba divers because of its picturesque marine life. And according to a popular theory, even the sea’s name may have been inspired by the seasonal blooms of the red-coloured algae that grow in its waters.

Saudi Arabia - some facts

• The size of the country is 2,149,000 square km
• 33 million inhabitants
• The second largest Arab state (after Algeria)
• 98% of the surface is desert or semidesert
• Only 2% of the area is suitable for agriculture
• It's an Islamic absolute monarchy
• 99% of Saudi Muslims are islamic
• GDP per capita is 21,000 USD
• About 22% of world oil reserves are located in Saudi Arabia.
• Oil was discovered in 1938
• The production started under the control of Aramco (Arabian American Oil Company).
• About 22% of world oil reserves are located in Saudi Arabia
• Saudi Arabia is one of the founder of OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries)

Medina (Saudi Arabia)
Medina is the second most sacred place in Islamic religion, after Mecca. It became famous when in 622 Muhammad with his followers took refuge in it to escape persecution in his native town of Mecca. His journey is called Hegira and is regarded as the beginning of the Islamic calendar. In Medina, where he lived for 10 years, Muhammad founded the first Islamic state community.

Al Ain (United Arab Emirates)
Al Ain lies in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi on the border with Oman. Due to its numerous parks, green oases and tree-lined avenues it is known as the "Garden City of the Gulf." It is the largest inland urban area in the United Arab Emirates and linked with Abu Dhabi and Dubai into some sort of metropolitan triangle. Unlike the other two cities, in Al Ain is prohibited to construct buildings with more than 4 floors. Archaeological excavations testify to the settlement of the area as early as 4,000 years ago, but Al Ain is a modern city to which history just adds a noble touch of tradition.

Rdeče morje – Saudova Arabija - Medina – Al Ain

Rdeče morje
Iz Afrike preko Rdečega morja v Azijo oziroma na Arabski polotok. To strateško pomembno morje je zaliv Indijskega oceana, dolgo 1900 km in v najširšem delu široko 300 km. Rdeče morje se omenja že v biblijskih časih, ko naj bi Mojzes omogočil odpihniti morje, da so Izraelci lahko zbežali iz egipčanskega suženjstva. V novejši zgodovini in seveda še danes Rdeče morje predstavlja najkrajšo pomorsko pot iz Azije v Evropo. V te namene je bil leta 1869 odprt 163 km dolg Sueški prekop, kasneje sicer še večkrat dograjen in razširjen. Dandanes je Rdeče morje tudi raj za potapljače, saj slovi po izjemno slikovitem morskem življenju. Prav alge, ki se razcvetijo v rdečo barvo, naj bi dale morju tudi ime.

Saudova Arabija - nekaj dejstev

• Velikost države 2.149 000 km2
• 33 milijonov prebivalcev
• Druga največja arabska država (za Alžirijo)
• 98 % površine je puščava ali polpuščava
• Le 2% površine sta primerna za poljedelstvo
• Po ureditvi je islamska absolutna monarhija
• 99 % Savdijcev je muslimanske vere
• BDP na prebivalca znaša 21.000 USD
• Približno 22% svetovnih zalog nafte se nahaja v Savdski Arabiji.
• Nafto so odkrili leta 1938
• Proizvodnja se je začela pod nadzorom podjetja Aramco (Arabian American Oil Company).
• Približno 22% svetovnih zalog nafte se nahaja v Savdski Arabiji.
• Savdska Arabija je ena izmed ustanoviteljic OPECa – (Organizacije držav izvoznic nafte)

Medina (Saudova Arabija)
Medina je za Meko drugo najsvetejše mesto v islamski religiji. Postalo je znano, ko je Mohamed leta 622 skupaj s svojimi privrženci pribežal vanj iz Meke, kjer je bil sicer rojen. Njegov beg se imenuje hedžra in označuje začetek muslimanskega štetja let. V Medini, kjer je živel 10 let, je Mohamed ustanovil prvo islamsko državno skupnost.

Al Ain (Združeni arabski emirati)
Al Ain leži v emiratu Abu Dabi na meji z Omanom. Zaradi številnih parkov, zelenih oaz in avenij z drevoredi je poznan kot "Zalivsko mesto vrtov". Je največji kraj v notranjosti Združenih arabskih emiratov in tesno povezan z Abu Dabijem in Dubajem, s katerima tvori nekakšen trikotnik velemest. Za razliko od ostalih dveh mest pa je v Al Ainu z zakonom prepovedano graditi stavbe z več kot štirimi nadstropji. Arheološke izkopanine izpričujejo poseljenost tega območja že pred 4000 leti, toda Al Ain je moderno središče, ki mu zgodovina daje le žlahten pridih tradicionalnega.

Photo: Sunset on the Arabian peninsula