33-1 Geological Constraints In Determiting the Location of the Biblical Exodus Splitting of the Red Sea

Session: Geoarcheology (Posters)

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Abstract:

The Bible describes one of mankind’s greatest moments the Israelites splitting and crossing of the Red Sea, while being pursued by the Egyptian chariot army. The location is cloaked in mystery with an absence of archeological (encampments) and geological (tsunami deposits) evidence.

 The purpose of this presentation is to examine the current hypothesized 7 locations of the Israelite Red Sea Crossing 1) Lake Mezaleh , 2) Lake Ballah  3) Lake Timash) 4) Bitter Lake, 5) Port (Gulf)of Suez 6) Straits of Tiran),7) Nuewaba (Gulf of Aqaba) with regard to geological constraints, bathymetry, currents, structural /tectonic subsidence, and tsunamis  

The most ideal location is the Port( Gulf ) of Suez favored by Hool ( 2018) and Carter ( 2021)with relatively shallow water < 30 m. Extreme tidal currents during the lunar cycle along with a once in 1000 year wind event blowing 78 mph would drop sea level 19 ft ( Nof and Paldor 1994). It's location favors the proximal biblical location of Migdol (high tower) an Egyptian fortress located north of the crossing, and Egyptian army access.

 The Egyptian lakes, not identified as part of Red Sea are offered as crossing locations’  Drews studying Lake Mezaleh, used computer simulations of fluid dynamics, demonstrated that a strong, sustained east wind (around 63 mph or 100 km/h) could have pushed the water back exposing a wide land bridge

The Straights of Tiran  crossing (Rud( 2006) is the shallowest Gulf of Aqaba between the Sinai and Saudi Arabia, located 420 km from Ramses,would require traveling  25 days.versus Josephus's ( Antiquites 2.15) accounts 3 days,ulimately traversing  a  topographic coral laden surface.

The Nuewaba crossing (Wood, Franz) located on the western shore of the Gulf of Aqaba. Nubian granite pillars of King Solomon are located on both coasts of Gulf of Aqaba in the Sinai and a twin on the eastern cost of the Gulf of Aqaba in Saudi Arabia  is suggesed marking the splitting location. Geological evidence require a mega tsunami  splitting 800 m of water.Based upon bahemetric mapping  there is no possible land bridge as workers have suggested.  There are no tsunami deposits and specific earthquake evidence associated with this specific time even though significant earthquakes (7.4 Mw) have been documented in the area.  

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 2, 2026

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