It is the country's largest natural oasis and lies in a deep depression in the Western Desert.
Capital: the city of Al-Fayyum (Fayoum City, formerly known as Crocodilopolis or Arsinoe).
Geography: Mostly below sea level, with Lake Qarun as its largest lake, irrigation canals (including the Bahr Yussef/Yusuf Canal), and fertile agricultural land.
History: Inhabited since Ancient Egypt (from around 7000 BC, Neolithic sites), flourished during the 12th Dynasty and Ptolemaic period (thanks to massive irrigation works), center of worship of the crocodile god Sobek, numerous Greek and Roman remains and papyrus discoveries.
Famous attractions: Wadi El Rayan (nature reserve with waterfalls – the only one in the Egyptian desert).
Wadi El Hitan (Valley of the Whales – UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Lake Qarun and bird sanctuary.
Pyramid of Lahun, Hawara, Karanis, and other archaeological sites.
Present: Important agricultural area (vegetables, fruit, rice), growing tourism, but also high poverty in parts of the province.
In short: a unique blend of fertile oasis, spectacular nature, prehistoric and pharaonic history, and a popular day trip from Cairo.
No comments:
Post a Comment