| . | Red Sea |
Black Sea |
| . |  |
 |
| Climate |
The red Sea is surrounded by extremely hot arid deserts on all shores, that receives very little precipitation in any form |
A steppe continental climate, with cold humid winters and hot, dry summers |
| Rivers |
No rivers supply the Red Sea with fresh water |
Freshwater flows in from the European areas. The most important river entering the Black Sea is the Danube, followed by the Dnjestr and the Dnjepr. |
| Human Settlements |
Very hard living conditions on the shores of the sea with no rivers supplying fresh water
Historically the virgin costal areas had very few human settlements |
Important cities and civilizations flourished along the coasts of the Black sea.
The Sea was navigated and its shores colonized by Greeks and Romans as early as the eighth century B.C.
Troy, Constantinople, Istanbul, Sevastopol, Odessa, and Yalta are examples of historical cities in this coastal area. |
| Historical Role |
Natural border between Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula, with no connection between its arid uninhabited coasts on both Asian and African shores
In the bible story Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt, with the Pharaoh
and his army chasing him. Moses was in a difficult spot, on either side were
high mountains. in front was the Red Sea. And coming up fast behind was Pharaoh and his
army. The lord told Moses to lift up his staff and stretch it out over the Red
Sea, a strong wind to blow all night, and the water of the sea divided left and right, and a dry path down the middle. Moses and the children of Israel went through easily.
When Pharaoh saw this he decided to cross over on the dry path. Moses lifted up his staff and
stretched it out over the water, and the water came crashing back, all of Pharaoh's army was
drowned. |
Has been of critical importance to regional commerce throughout the ages,linking Europe with Asia.
Many of the colonial and commercial activities of ancient Greece and Rome, and of the Byzantine Empire, centered on the Black Sea
Among its vast historical riches, the Black Sea region is home to the legend of Jason and the Argonauts and their search for the Golden Fleece, and the Biblical account of Noah's Ark.
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| Fauna |
Due to small human populations, and extensive shallow shores. The sea has a rich and diverse ecosystem of over 1,000 marine invertebrate species and 200 soft and hard marine corals
Coral reefs are 5000-7000 years old
| Heavily overfished and overcrowded. many fish have disappeared and other fish stocks have declined from the Black Sea habitats. | |
