El Fayoum, a desert oasis in Egypt.
This oasis, often referred to as Joseph’s canal, was constructed by a long canal that was built as a result of the flooding caused by the Nile. Joseph, the first person to live in the oasis, is credited in the Bible with providing the idea for the name of this legendary watercourse.
This expansive region may be found in the region that spans the Nile River and the Qarun Lake.
The lake, which on windy days may give the impression of being an ocean, is a significant contributor to Fayoum’s distinctive personality and atmosphere.
Winston Churchill and King Farouk were known to spend a lot of time at the lake’s southern resort hotels at the height of duck hunting’s popularity. While they pursued their interest in shooting flying geese, these guys slept in motels.
These man-made lakes, such as Wadi Rayan, continue to be popular locations for duck hunting. This lake and the Wadi Rayyan that is just next to it are like a dream come true for anybody who enjoys birdwatching.
There was a time when the whole of Lake Qarun was composed of freshwater.
The fish bones and plankton bones that have been recovered in the mud deposits are evidence that this occurred.
Floods on the Nile in ancient times were the source of the lake’s water supply.
Because the British built an early prototype of the high dam at Aswan in the early 1900s and an irrigation scheme that entailed a more extensive canalization of the Nile, more agricultural runoff than pure Nile water reaches Lake Nasser. This is due to the fact that the Nile was canalized more extensively by the British. This was the end outcome of technological advancements made in Britain.
The lake’s increasing salinity has led to the population of fish there being almost entirely composed of species that are found in the Mediterranean Sea. Freshwater fish are unable to flourish in the lake as a result of the conditions that are now present.
The modern Fayoum Oasis is surrounded on all sides by palm groves, which makes it an exceptionally pleasant location to live.
In the desert to the north of Lake Qarun, there are some ancient ruins and water wheels that may be observed.
Camels are responsible for the majority of the work that is done by donkeys in the oasis. Camels prefer Berseem grass over thorny desert weeds.
Two lakes are connected by a waterfall in the Wadi Rayyan area of Fayoum. Only one waterfall may be found in the Egyptian desert. The section of Wadi Rayyan that is designated as a protected area is located inside Fayoum Park.
Those who go to the Wadi Rayyan monastery complex may be able to observe what’s left of the rock caves that their ancestors used in the early years of Christianity as a place of worship. Discover the wadis and hills that are located in the surrounding region.
A breathtaking panorama of the lake may be seen from the observation deck of the Wadi Rayyan tourist centre. On their way to Egypt, migrating birds from Africa utilise the immensity of the lake as a staging area because to its proximity to Africa.
The Whale Valley, which may be found to the west of the Fayoum, will be the primary subject of this book.
Wadi Hitan, also known as Whale Valley, is home to some of the most well-preserved whale fossils that have ever been discovered anywhere in the world.
This vast and interesting haunted house is definitely worthy of a trip there at least once.
