The tropical coral

In 1998 an increase in water temperature caused a lot of problems to the tropical reef coral. The Red Sea was affected from Bab al Mandab Strait to 21° North, which means within the Sudanese area. In Sudan the effect of the exceptional temperature rise got slowly dissolved and at the Egyptian border no variation could be perceived: indeed, in Egypt coral reefs remained alive and healthy. Surprisingly, such a phenomenon did not affect the Sawakin Isles, Southern of Port Sudan, in Sawakin the reefs are not particularly extensive, often they are “towers” raising from the deep, and it is likely that the water exchange provided by upwarding currents was strong enough to keep the temperature at lower levels. While in the Northern Sudanese reefs all the coral growing between the sea level and the first 15 meters of depth was dying, and the walls and rocks had a sad and monochromatic grey appearance, a few dozens of miles farther South the corals and walls were unaffected, both in the big reefs such as Sha’ab’Anbar and on the stunning towers such as Jumna and the well-known “Pinnacolo”. During the next spring, in 1999, the first signs of recovery could already be seen. The coral started to grow again both from dead branches, with juveniles of the same species, and from brand new conglomerates, giving a pleasant vision of rebirthing and freshness, like a newly restored garden. Five years have passed now, and we can definetely say that it looks like nothing has happened. The walls are luxuriant and colourful again, the corals, “brains” and Alcyonaria are astonishing. Fish have returned in multitudes, crowning the reefs with their colourful schools again.

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