Scientists at the Scientific and Technological University King Abdullah showed that, about 6.2 million years ago, the Red Sea was completely dried, then suddenly filled with water from the Indian Ocean.
Initially, the Red Sea was connected to the north with the Mediterranean through a slightly deep water threshold. This connection was interrupted, and the Red Sea turned into a salty and barren desert. In the south of the Red Sea, not far from the Hanish islands, a volcanic mountain chain separates the sea from the Indian Ocean.
However, about 6.2 million years ago, the water in the Indian Ocean passed over this barrier, causing a catastrophic flood. The flow has dug an underwater canyon with a length of 320 km, which is still visible on the seafront, reports Noi.mdwith reference to.
The water quickly filled the basin, flooding the salines and restoring the normal conditions of the marine environment in less than 100,000 years. This event took place almost a million years before the Mediterranean was filled by the famous flood of Zankl, which gave the Red Sea a unique rebirth history.
The Red Sea formed as a result of the separation of the plaques of Arabia and Africa, which started 30 million years ago. Initially, the sea was a narrow valley, full of lakes, and then, when it was flooded by the Mediterranean 23 million years ago, it turned into a broad bay.
However, evaporation and deficient circulation of marine water led to increased salinity, which led to the disappearance of marine life during the period between 15 and 6 million years ago. In addition, the basin was filled with layers of salt and gypsum. This led to complete drying of the Red Sea. A catastrophic flood in the Indian Ocean has restored the marine life in the Red Sea, which is kept in coral reefs to this day.
