Religious and Geographical Profile of the Sinai Peninsula

The Sinai Peninsula is located in the Asian part of Egypt between the Mediterranean Sea to the north, and the Red Sea to the south. The region is historically significant, featuring Places of Power and Sacred Mountains that define its unique character.

Geographical Overview

The Sinai Peninsula is defined by the Suez Canal and the Gulf of Suez in west and the Gulf of Aqaba in south east. The Egyptian portion of the peninsula has an area of about 60,000 km² (23,000 sq mi) this is roughly twice the size of Belgium, or somewhat smaller then than the U.S. state of West Virginia. Most of its area is desert, the southern third of the peninsula is mountainous, in the center there are several wadis, dry (ephemeral) riverbeds which contains water only during times of heavy rainfall.

Religious Landmarks and Key Cities

The map shows the location of following cities and towns: Saint Catherine (nearby Saint Catherine's Monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Other notable areas include Dahab, which is Sinai's most treasured diving destinations, and Sharm el-Sheikh, known as an Egyptian premium resort. The city of Suez serves as the southern terminus of the Suez Canal.

Administrative Structure and Population

Sinai is divided into the two Egyptian Governorates of the North Sinai Governorate, with its administrative center at Arish (El Arīsh), and the South Sinai Governorate with El Tor (Tur Sinai) as capital. The Sinai is sparsely populated, about 600,000 people live in the region. Countries with international borders to Sinai are Palestinian territories (Gaza Strip) and Israel, while Egypt shares maritime borders in the Sinai with Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Sinai Key Statistical Data

Category	Information
Total Area	About 60,000 km² (23,000 sq mi)
Population	600,000 people
North Sinai Center	Arish (El Arīsh)
South Sinai Center	El Tor (Tur Sinai)
Key Landmark	Saint Catherine's Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage Site)