No, the Red Sea Is Not in Texas

Despite the occasional tall tale, the Red Sea is nowhere near the Lone Star State. It is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia in the Middle East.

Where It Actually Is

The Red Sea separates the Arabian Peninsula from northeastern Africa. Its shores touch six countries:

• Egypt (west, including the Sinai Peninsula)
• Sudan (west)
• Eritrea (west)
• Saudi Arabia (east)
• Yemen (east, at the southern end)
• Jordan (east, at the Gulf of Aqaba)

Key Connections

• North: Connects to the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal (Egypt).
• South: Opens to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean through the Bab el-Mandeb strait.

Texas, meanwhile, borders the Gulf of Mexico—an entirely different basin. The only "Red Sea" in Texas might be a local pond nickname or a very confused GPS.