Qarun Lake

Qarun Lake

Lake Qarun Protected Area: History, Biodiversity, and Ancient Fossils

Lake Qarun is located in the northwestern part of the Wadi Al-Rayyan Depression, It is considered one of the oldest natural lakes in the world and is a remnant of the ancient Lake Morris. It covers an area of approximately 55,000 acres, with a depth ranging from 5 to 12 meters, a water level of 45 meters, and a salinity ranging from 32 to 35 g/L.

The ecological composition of the reserve and its features:

• The northern part of the lake includes the Jabal Qatrani area, a rocky limestone region containing important mammal fossils dating back approximately 3–10 million years, including fossils of the world’s oldest monkey, “Aegyptius,” and some petrified trees.

• There are several geologically and historically significant formations in the northeastern part of the lake, as well as some wetlands containing diverse plant communities.

• Many migratory and resident birds migrate to the lake during the winter.

• The lake is home to some native fish species, such as the green tilapia, as well as introduced and acclimatized species like the mousa and the buri, and some invertebrates such as the white shrimp.

• There are several archaeological sites along the lake’s shores, including Pharaonic and Roman sites such as the Churches Area, the Temple of the Goldsmiths, the Temple of Qarun’s Palace, the Ahrit Area, the Monastery of Apollonia, and others, as well as ancient geological sites containing plant and animal fossils.

Lake Qarun in Fayoum It is one of the oldest Egyptian lakes that derives its water from the Nile River flood, and has now become a destination for many visitors under the slogan “one-day resort”.

the  Lake has many advantages that make it one of the most important places of leisure in Fayoum, on top of the surrounding beaches, river tours that are held in it, as well as nearby archaeological monuments such as the Ptolemaic village of Dimiya Al-Sabaa.

Activities in Qarun Lake

Visitors and residents of the city of Fayoum can head to Lake Qarun and practice many activities, for example:

1. Relaxing on chairs and tables with umbrellas
2. Having fun with the kids and building sand castles on the lakeshore
3. Taking a riverboat cruise around the Lake
4. Eating seafood or fast food from the service area
5. Staying in one of the chalets or hotels near the Lake

The Depth Of The Lake

Qarun Lake is one of the shallow natural lakes, as its average depth reaches seven and a half meters, and its deepest point reaches fourteen meters, as it is fifty kilometers long and twelve kilometers wide.

Tourism in Lake Qarun

Qarun Lake is one of the most prominent popular beaches in Egypt, where this lake is called (the resort of the unfortunate); due to the ease of access to it, and the low financial cost of taking a tour on its banks, it is visited by residents in Egypt in particular, residents of Upper Egypt, and the people of Fayoum Governorate, where boats and (cafeterias) are spread on the shore of the lake, and families spend their time at the lake in search of entertainment and escape from the high temperatures.