eli5:How come Gulf of Aden is known as a gulf where as Red Sea is a sea ?

Question

eli5:How come Gulf of Aden is known as a gulf where as Red Sea is a sea ?

In: Other

Answer 1

The Gulf of Aden is open to the Arabian Sea. If you sail from the Gulf of Aden to the Arabian Sea you do not notice any threshold, just less landmass to the sides of you and more waves. However the Red Sea is clearly divided from the Gulf of Aden by a relatively narrow straight, the Gate of Tears. The straight is only 26 km wide and can have dangerous currents through it which is a bit tricky to navigate. But when you enter the Red Sea it opens up and the currents calm down.