Sinai
The Sinai peninsula is a mountainous and arid region of north-eastern Egypt. Its northern coastline faces the Mediterranean coastline, while to the south it is bounded by the Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of Suez, both of which ar arms of the Red Sea. To the north east the peninsula is bounded by Gaza and Israel; while to the west the Suez Canal sparates Sinai from the rest of Egypt. The highest mountain is Mount St Catherine (2637 m), on whose slopes stands a Christian monastery. Mount Sinai stands close to Mount St Catherine.
Sinai in the Bible
The Bible records that Moses received the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai.
Sinai in modern history
Sinai has repeatedly been a battlefield in the wars between Israel and its Arab neighbours. The peninsula was briefly occupied by Israeli forces during the Suez Crisis of 1956; and was again conquered by Israel during the Six Day War of 1967. In 1973, during the Yom Kippur War, Egyptian forces crossed the Suez Canal and reoccupied adjacent parts of Sinai (although in a counteroffensive, Israeli forces retook much of the lost territory and established a bridgehead west of the canal). As part of the ceasefire agreement that ended that conflict, Israel withdrew to a line east of the canal, and in 1979 further agreed to evacuate Sinai. This was done in stages and completed in 1982.