It forms a natural harbour, and in Ottoman times was the site of the Imperial Tershane (Naval Arsenal), capable of holding 120 ships.
The harbor is can hold up to 120 ships at once.
Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada are the largest resorts, well-equipped with hotels and eateries, with a full range of facilities such as windsurfing, water-skiing, and water  Dahab and Nuweiba on the west coast of the Sinai are smaller, with a hardened diving or windsurfing crowd great for a low key vacation.