Qarun Lake

Egypt is famous for its natural diversity throughout its geographical area, and among the diversity found in it: the Nile River, desert areas, and lakes. One of the most famous lakes in it is Lake Qarun, which is classified as one of the oldest and largest natural lakes in Egypt and the deepest in the world. Lake Qarun is located twenty-seven kilometers northwest of Fayoum Governorate, and fifty kilometers west of the Nile River. The lake is famous in Upper Egypt, as it is about an hour and a half away from the capital, Cairo.

History of Lake Qarun

The lake is considered one of the largest lakes that were formed due to natural factors, and it is likely that the tributaries of the Nile River were exposed to some of them due to a high level of flooding during the Stone Age, as the waters of the tributary of the Nile River, which was called Bahr Yusuf and in the past it was called the Bahr al-Manaha, overflowed during the Ayyubid era.

In the past, the Pharaohs knew this lake and called it (May Mer), then the name was changed to Maurice, and then to the name Qarun, in relation to a wealthy man named Qarun, who was mentioned in the Holy Qur’an. Where God's discontent with the land and took away his money from him (and drowned his treasures, as it is said, they are greedy to search for the treasure of Qarun), and it was also named after Lake Al-Sayd in relation to fishing and migratory birds, and in the name of Lake Fayoum in relation to the city in which it is located.

Description of Lake Qarun

The waters of the lake are classified into salty and fresh waters, and each type of water lives in a type of fish, and this is one of the oddities of the lake. The depth of the water varies from point to point; The depths in areas reach four meters and others eight meters, and the lake feeds the waters of the Nile River, which became scarce after the construction of the High Dam, the Bats Drain, the Wadi Drain, and twelve other drains.

Facts about Lake Qarun

The water of the lake is salty, as we mentioned, and this is a clear mystery, despite its feeding from the fresh waters of the Nile River.
There are historical geological formations around the lake area; As fossils of ancient mammals that lived around the lake area, as well as fossils of plants, some civilizations lived around them, and this is evidenced by the ancient monuments that were left behind, such as the Pharaonic and Roman civilizations.
The lake area is considered a natural area and a station for migratory birds such as ducks, quails, and others. Bird hunting enthusiasts monitor the time when birds come to the lake to practice the hunting hobby, as well as for fishing enthusiasts. The lake abounds in fish, as it is considered a major source of fish wealth in Egypt.