Yemen Red Sea Climate & Environment

Yemen is bordered by Saudi Arabia and Oman. The sands of the great Arabian Desert pour into the country from the north and stretch down to the southern coast. However, Yemen is the least sandy place on the Arabian Peninsula, due to the twice-yearly monsoon winds which dump enormous quantities of water on the country. In the west, the country's highest mountains rise to well over 3000m then slope away to a high fertile plateau where you can still find active volcanoes and hot springs. Two-thirds of Yemen is uninhabited.

Along the Tihama, vegetation ranges from mangroves to sand-dwelling grasses and shrubs. More rain falls in the foothills where a few evergreen plants such as palms and acacias grow. Tropical plants grow in the mountains' higher areas including commercial plantations of tropical fruits; with the highest slopes cultivated by coffee and qat growers. The plateaus are used by sorghum, vegetable and spice growers.



Every country has its own delicate eco-system. So be responsible while you are appreciating the beauty. If you are in the desert, the rule is Pack it in, Pack it out. If you are in a protected park, stick to the trail. Wandering away can cause unforeseen damage to the delicate plant and animal life. Be conscious of things like water consumption, proper waste disposal, and turning off air-conditioning units when away from your room. Water is a precious commodity in the desert regions.

In the Red Sea, do not feed the fish, do not collect or remove any material either living or dead, and do not touch the coral reef with any part of your body including your fins! Thanks to a growing number of dedicated environmental agencies, there is a greater knowledge of Reef Protection awareness.