Red Sea Nubo–Sindian tropical desert and semi-desert
| Red Sea Nubo-Sindian tropical desert and semi-desert | |
|---|---|
Ecoregion territory (in yellow) | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Palearctic |
| Biome | Deserts and xeric shrublands |
| Geography | |
| Area | 652,683 km2 (252,002 sq mi) |
| Country | Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Yemen |
| Coordinates | 24°15′N 39°15′E / 24.25°N 39.25°E |
The Red Sea Nubo–Sindian tropical desert and semi-desert ecoregion (WWF ID: PA1325) covers extremely arid land along the northeastern Red Sea, the southern Sinai Peninsula, and on a thin strip along the Israel-Jordan border. Most of the coastal land is flat, but there are high mountains in southern Sinai. Biodiversity is limited by the low moisture levels – some areas go for years without significant rain. Portions of the area support a thin savannah-like cover of widely scattered trees and scrub, surrounded by grasses that briefly flourish after a rainfall. Biodiversity is highest in the mountains of Sinai, and in the wadis and gullies that retain moisture.