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There is debate among scholars as to whether it was the Red Sea or the Reed Sea that the Israelites crossed. The term "Sea of Reeds" is believed by some to describe the Bitter Lakes and also some of the smaller bodies of water in the area (e.g., Lake Tamsah). Some interpretations of the Scriptures indicate that it was the Reed Sea that they crossed. The question is, could both Reed Sea and Red Sea have been correct? There are ancient legends that say the Bitter Lakes were once connected to the Red Sea (now known as the Gulf of Suez). Over the years the lakes may have become isolated and then became known as the "Sea of Reeds". Perhaps the isolation was due to changes in sea level or failure to keep an ancient canal dredged.

The terrain maps shown below show the effects of increasing the sea level. You can sea it doesn't take too much sea level change to connect the Bitter Lakes to the Dead Sea. Therefore the early Egyptians could have dug an ancient canal to the Red Sea with much less effort than it took to build a pyramid.

 

Modern Sea Level

Sea Level Raised by 3 Meters

Sea Level Raised by 5 Meters

Sea Level Raised by 10 Meters