The Nile River, next to the Red Sea, winds through Egypt

iss073e0768775 (Sept. 26, 2025) --- The Nile River (top) winds through Egypt, which is separated from Saudi Arabia by the Red Sea. The Red Sea branches into two gulfs: the Gulf of Suez, which leads to the Suez Canal—a strategic and economically vital waterway—and the Gulf of Aqaba. The International Space Station was orbiting 257 miles above the Middle East when this photograph was taken.