Actually I sort of disagree - objectively of course - but the straits of Tiran are actually quite shallow in places. The Saddle between Jackson Reef and Laguna - the shallow lagoon that surrounds Tiran, rises to 60 metres. There is also the island of Sanafir behind Tiran and the sea in between is so shallow in places that the big ships heading from Aqaba have to navigate through Tiran instead. Enterprise Passage, for ships coming south, between the Tiran reefs and the east coast of Sinai, rises to something like 250 metres and it not so very wide. Jackson Reef is big enough for a foundation, and the surrounding area is hard coral substrate, not just sand. I am of course not a construction expert but after watching "Megastructures" on Discovery Channel, I reckon it could be done by some clever people with shiny white hard hats.
I hope it's been shelved permanently, because it would destroy a very special ecosystem , but if the people with money think that more money can be made by destroying something that earns less money and building a bridge, they will do it. Saudi Arabia has recently been using some sort of high-powered sonic bomb - because that's the only word to describe it - which on some reefs has meant you can actually feel this pulse in your body (no word of a lie), every 15 seconds, which they did for six months looking for gas fields, apparently. There is a monster rig being built on the horizon to the East of Ras Mohamed national park... and people of course, quite righteously complained. Saudi Arabia sort of went: "huh, did you just say something?"
Who cares about fish and tourists when there's a new gas pipeline to be built?
I don't see it happening in the next few years but if there is any potential for exploitation in order to secure cash money, the almighty dollar (or potentially, Yuan) rules.
That was more of a rant than intended, but have lots to say on the matter at the moment!
Cheers
C.
