Wadi Elrayan, Nature reserve and wetland near Faiyum, Egypt
The protected area spans 175,790 hectares containing two artificial lakes connected by waterfalls at 36 meters below sea level in the Egyptian desert.
The Ministry of Environmental Affairs established Wadi Elrayan as a protected zone, leading to its recognition as a Ramsar Site in June 2012.
Local communities of 12,000 residents maintain traditional fishing practices in the lakes, contributing to the annual fish production of the region.
Visitors can access the reserve by taking an 80-kilometer drive west from the Nile River or 65 kilometers southwest from Faiyum city.
The reserve contains three sulfur springs on the southern side of the lower lake and houses 164 bird species and 29 fish species.
Location: Faiyum Governorate
Elevation above the sea: -36 m
GPS coordinates: 29.17944,30.44056
Latest update: May 27, 2025 06:48
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