Toshka Depression, Endorheic lakes system in Southern Egypt.
Toshka Depression is an endorheic lake system in southern Egypt where water from upstream reservoirs fills natural desert basins. The water collects in several connected lakes that sit in a low area surrounded by sand and rock formations.
The lakes formed in the 1990s when overflow from upstream water sources began flowing into the natural desert depression. This process transformed an arid area into a temporary water system in response to excess water from regional sources.
The name originates from a former Nubian settlement that existed in the region before the construction of the Aswan High Dam submerged the area.
The site sits in a remote desert region with extreme heat and sparse facilities. Visitors should come prepared with water and supplies, and guided tours help navigate the vast and isolated landscape safely.
Between 2002 and 2012, the lakes experienced an 80 percent reduction in surface area, decreasing from 1450 to 307 square kilometers.
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