This body of water contains the Atlantis II Deep submarine basin, one of the world’s major examples of ore-rich “hot brines.” It’s not in Belize, but as many as 200 divers have asphyxiated in recent decades while trying to pass through the “Arch” at the bottom of a Blue Hole in this body of water. This body of water faces an imminent oil spill from the FSO Safer (“SAFF-er”), a derelict supertanker that has been moored in it since 2015. No significant (*) rivers or streams flow into this body of water, whose high salinity and annual temperatures have made its coral reefs uniquely resistant to bleaching. The southern entrance to this body of water is the “Gate of Grief,” or Bab-el-Mandeb, a route avoided by overlarge “Capesize” ships. For 10 points, name this biodiverse shipping highway that connects the Gulf of Aden to the Gulf of Suez. ■END■
ANSWER: Red Sea [prompt on Indian Ocean; prompt on Gulf of Aqaba or Gulf of Suez until “Gulf of Suez” is read by asking “that gulf is an extension of what body of water?”]
<Henry Atkins, Geography>
= Average correct buzz position