Port Safaga, also known as Safaga (Arabic: سفاجا Safāja, IPA: [sæˈfæːɡæ]), is a town in Egypt, on the coast of the Red Sea, located 53 km (33 mi) south of Hurghada. This small port is also a tourist area that consists of several bungalows and rest houses, including the Safaga Hotel, with a capacity of 48 rooms (126 beds).
Having numerous phosphate mines, it is regarded as the phosphates export center. A paved road of 164 km (102 mi) connects Safaga to Qena of Upper Egypt.
The town was founded between 282 BC and 268 BC, by Satyrus (Ancient Greek: Σάτυρος).[2][3] It was called Philotera (Ancient Greek: Φιλωτέρα) in honor of the deceased sister of the Pharaoh Ptolemy II Philadelphus.[2] Stephanus of Byzantium write that it was also called Philoterida (Ancient Greek: Φιλωτερίδα).[3]
Safaga City is considered one of the most important therapeutic tourist centres, as special medical researches have proved the potential of attracting international tourism to Safaga.
Safaga was a merchant port for many years. The town has a small tourism industry, specialising in scuba diving. It was the host of the 1993 Red Sea World Windsurfing Championships.
Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as hot desert (BWh),[4] as the rest of Egypt.
The highest record temperature was 46 °C (115 °F) on July 30, 2002, while the lowest record temperature was 0 °C (32 °F) on February 2, 1993.[5]
Safaga port is also a gateway for Duba port to some hajj pilgrims or travelers to Mecca, by ferries.
