El Fayoum Oasis is home to Lake Qarun.
A mix of history and natural beauty is particularly appealing in the Fayoum Region, making it a popular tourist destination.
Birdwatchers and environmentalists flock to Lake Qarun for its plethora of wildlife and lush surroundings, making it a favorite stop for both.
Location:
Fayoum City is accessible by road in around 40 minutes from downtown Cairo, which is accessible by road in about 1 hour and 40 minutes.
History:
If tankers passing through the Suez Canal’s sand banks are an odd contrast of water and desert landscape, then Egypt’s Lake Qaroun (Birket Qaroun) is the most strange.
The lake is bordered by barren hills and the immensity of the Western Desert in the background, with fishing boats bobbing on the surface.
A horn-shaped peak on an island in the middle of the lake may have given rise to the name “The Pond” (El-Birka), but the Fayoumis believe it was called after a person in the Koran who was swallowed up by the earth as a punishment for being exultant in his riches.
As a swimming place, the lake is a popular choice for residents. However, because to the less favorable weather conditions, swimming is not recommended from January to April.
