Saint Katherine Protectorate, National park in South Sinai, Egypt
Saint Katherine Protectorate is a national park in South Sinai featuring mountainous terrain with valleys, canyons, and elevated plateaus. The landscape includes the Saint Katherine Monastery and numerous peaks that shape the terrain.
The protectorate was established in 1988 to protect the ancient mountain landscape of Sinai, where rock formations date back millions of years. The mountains have been sacred sites for religious communities since ancient times.
The Gabalia Bedouins have lived in this region for generations, maintaining their knowledge of local medicinal plants and how to live with the mountain environment. Their presence shapes daily life throughout the valleys and peaks.
Winter days are cool with very cold nights, and temperatures at higher elevations drop well below freezing. Visitors should bring layered clothing and allow plenty of time for trails across the mountain terrain.
The park hosts an exceptional concentration of plants found nowhere else in the world, with many species growing only within these mountains. These rare butterfly species also represent a significant portion of Egypt's entire butterfly diversity.
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