Earth: Day Zero • Paper 173 of 512
Red Sea Rift System
The Red Sea Rift represents one of the most significant active continental separation systems on Earth.
Regional Geological Context
Important regions include Jeddah, Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia; Yanbu, Al Madinah Province, Saudi Arabia; Hurghada, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt; Port Sudan, Red Sea State, Sudan; Massawa, Northern Red Sea Region, Eritrea; and Djibouti City, Djibouti.
Relevant institutions include King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia; King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Observation
The Red Sea preserves active extension, crustal thinning, volcanic activity, and young ocean-basin development.
Constraint Analysis
The system provides a modern laboratory for investigating continental breakup and early ocean formation.