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Introducción sobre Wadi El Rayan
Wadi El Rayan es una de las áreas protegidas más populares de Egipto. Ubicada cerca de El Cairo y de otras atracciones turísticas como la Pirámide de Hawara, la ciudad de Fayoum, y el Valle de las Ballenas, esta reserva natural es uno de los lugares favoritos de Egipto.
Origen del nombre
Se cree que Wadi El Rayan obtuvo su nombre debido al rey El Rayan Ibn Walid, quien montó su campamento militar en el área, para que sus soldados pudieran beber de los manantiales. Los beduinos de la zona confirman esta información. Sin embargo, no hay pruebas o registros históricos que lo confirmen.
Ubicación Geográfica
Wadi El Rayan está situado en el Desierto Occidental de Egipto, a unos 40km al suroeste de la ciudad de El Fayoum; 150km al sur de El Cairo; 700km al noroeste de Luxor; 570km al este de Sharm El Sheikh; 540km al noroeste de Hurghada y a 200km al norte del Oasis de El Bahariya.
Wadi El Rayan está separado de la depresión de El Fayoum por una gran área de piedra caliza.
Historia
Mohamed Ali, el fundador del Egipto moderno a fines del siglo XIX, fue uno de los primeros en reconocer los beneficios del agua de Wadi El Rayan. Él tuvo la intención de utilizar el valle como reservorio del agua de las inundaciones del Nilo. Sin embargo, el proyecto nunca se finalizó, por el temor de que el agua almacenada provocara inundaciones en la ciudad y la provincia de El Fayoum.
Wadi El Rayan fue declarado como área natural protegida en 1989, para preservar su importancia natural, geológica e histórica en la región. Tiene una superficie de 1759km2.
Los dos lagos artificiales de Wadi El Rayan fueron creados en 1973, cuando el área se llenó de agua extra proveniente de los drenajes de tierras cultivadas. Esto contribuyó a la formación de juncos y otras plantas que formaron el ambiente ideal para muchos pájaros y peces.
Descripción
Entre las diferentes secciones de Wadi Rayan podemos destacar los “lagos altos”, que están ubicados a más de 20 metros de altura de los lagos bajos. Su agua es salada, fresca y renovable.
Los lagos bajos son los más grandes del área, con una superficie de más de 100km2. Están situados a 25 metros debajo del nivel del mar y su agua es más salada que la de los lagos altos.
El agua que conecta los dos lagos tiene una superficie de 20mts2, formando tres cataratas naturales, que transportan el agua entre plantas de papiros.
Entre las actividades que pueden realizarse en Wadi El Rayan, podemos mencionar: la pesca, snorkel, paseos a caballo, etc.
Otro lugar interesante es el Valle de las Ballenas. Hace más de 40 millones de años, Wadi El Rayan estaba cubierto por un gran lago o mar. Sin embargo, debido a cambios geológicos, el agua fue confinada a una pequeña área. Esto dejó al descubierto los restos fósiles de plantas y animales. Entre ellos, se destacan los esqueletos de ballenas, los dientes de tiburones y otras criaturas marinas. Algunos de éstos fósiles se pueden observar en el Museo Geológico de El Cairo.
Las termas de Wadi El Rayan también son dignas de ser mencionadas. Sus aguas sulfúricas tienen propiedades curativas. Cerca de ellas hay diferentes plantas y árboles como el Ghardaq, el que le ha dado el nombre a la famosa ciudad de Hurghada.
La fauna del Wadi El Rayan incluye: la gacela blanca, el ciervo y zorro egipcios, el zorro rojo, y más de 100 tipos de aves y 16 tipos de reptiles.
Wadi El Rayan Protected Area is among the most popular protected areas in Egypt for travelers who tour Egypt and for the Egyptians as well for having a great experience.
Being near Cairo, the Egyptian Capital, and having some wonderful sections like the waterfalls and the Valley of the Whales made many guests visit the Wadi El-Rayan site every day.
Wadi El-Rayan site gained that name due to the fact that a king that held the name El-Rayan Ibn Walid resided a long time ago with his army to drink from the natural springs and the Bedouins who live in the desert area confirmed that this information is actually true.
However, there is no clear evidence or historical records about this piece of information about the name of the Protected Area of Wadi El-Rayan.
The Protected Area of Wadi El-Rayan is situated in the Western Desert of Egypt about 40 kilometers to South-west of the city of Faiyum, 150 kilometers to the South of Cairo, the Egyptian capital. Wadi El Rayan is separated from the depression of El Fayoum by a large limestone area.
Wadi El Rayan is located around 700 kilometers to the North-west of Luxor, 540 kilometers to the East of Sharm El-Sheikh, 570 kilometers to the North West of Hurghada, and about 200 kilometers away from El Bahariya Oasis.
Today many guests coming from El Fayoum and from Cairo come to enjoy the day in Wadi El Rayan, mainly in the area of the waterfalls that recently appeared in many Egyptian films and music video clips. Wadi El-Rayan has also attracted many travelers spending their holidays in Egypt.
Among the different sections of Wadi El-Rayan, there are two Lakes, the high Lake as they name it because the level of the water in this lake is higher than the lower ones with about 20 meters. it is salty, fresh, and renewable.
There is also the lower lake of Wadi El-Rayan and they are the bigger or the main lakes of the area. These lakes have a surface that exceeds 100 square kilometers.
The water in these lakes is saltier than the higher lake. These lakes are situated 25 meters below the sea level. Many guests hire small rowing boats to have a wonderful time moving around this lake.
The water which connects the two lakes together has a surface of 20 meters forming three natural waterfalls where it pours smoothly through the plants of papyrus.
This area is considered among the most beautiful sections of Wadi El Rayan due to its natural charm. There are many activities to be carried out for a great experience like fishing, diving, snorkeling, horseback riding, and many other wonderful things to do.
One of the most interesting sections of Wadi El-Rayan is The Valley of the Whales. More than 40 million years, Wadi El Rayan was under a large lake or a sea. However, due to the geological changes, the water was confined in a small area. This leftover many remaining parts of dead creatures which will provide you with an under-water experience.
The creatures included many skeletons of whales, the teeth of many sharks, and many other sea creatures. In fact, a whole complete skeleton of a whale was discovered in this area that is now put on display in the Geological Museum in Cairo.
The part of the springs of Wadi El Rayan is located to the south of the Lower Lakes and it has a surface area of 150 square kilometers.
This Part is featured for having a complete desert environment with the presence of some natural springs of Sulfur water that are appropriate for curative means. There are also some wonderful plants and trees like the famous Ghardaq, the tree that the name of the city of Hurghada is derived from. There are some rare animals as well like the white deer, the Egyptian deer, the Egyptian fox, and the red fox. This is besides more than 100 types of birds and about 16 types of reptiles.
The first who thought to benefit from Wadi El Rayan in modern history was Mohamed Ali, the founder of modern Egypt who ruled over the land of the Nile at the end of the 19th century. Mohamed Ali thought about the idea of restoring the waterfalls of the River Nile in Wadi-El Rayan.
Mohamed Ali had his best engineers work out a plan to take the water of the River Nile and transfer it to the Depression of Wadi El Rayan. However, this project was never completed because they feared that the waterfalls would slide and ruin the city and the governorate of El Fayoum.
Wadi El Rayan was declared as a natural protected area in 1989 to protect the natural, geological, and heritage significance of the region that has a surface area of more than 1750 square kilometers.
The two artificial lakes of Wadi El-Rayan were filled with waterfalls in 1973 when this place was filled with the surplus of the agricultural drainage water. This led to the formation of jungles of reed plants. This created the environment for the existence of many fish and birds. This is besides the marvelous natural scenery that attracts many tourists from all over the world to travel to Egypt to enjoy such beauty and charm.
Wadi El Rayan Protected Area is among the most popular protected areas in Egypt for travelers who tour Egypt and for the Egyptians as well for having a great experience.
Being near Cairo, the Egyptian Capital, and having some wonderful sections like the waterfalls and the Valley of the Whales made many guests visit the Wadi El-Rayan site every day.
Wadi El-Rayan site gained that name due to the fact that a king that held the name El-Rayan Ibn Walid resided a long time ago with his army to drink from the natural springs and the Bedouins who live in the desert area confirmed that this information is actually true.
However, there is no clear evidence or historical records about this piece of information about the name of the Protected Area of Wadi El-Rayan.
The Protected Area of Wadi El-Rayan is situated in the Western Desert of Egypt about 40 kilometers to South-west of the city of Faiyum, 150 kilometers to the South of Cairo, the Egyptian capital. Wadi El Rayan is separated from the depression of El Fayoum by a large limestone area.
Wadi El Rayan is located around 700 kilometers to the North-west of Luxor, 540 kilometers to the East of Sharm El-Sheikh, 570 kilometers to the North West of Hurghada, and about 200 kilometers away from El Bahariya Oasis.
Today many guests coming from El Fayoum and from Cairo come to enjoy the day in Wadi El Rayan, mainly in the area of the waterfalls that recently appeared in many Egyptian films and music video clips. Wadi El-Rayan has also attracted many travelers spending their holidays in Egypt.
Among the different sections of Wadi El-Rayan, there are two Lakes, the high Lake as they name it because the level of the water in this lake is higher than the lower ones with about 20 meters. it is salty, fresh, and renewable.
There is also the lower lake of Wadi El-Rayan and they are the bigger or the main lakes of the area. These lakes have a surface that exceeds 100 square kilometers.
The water in these lakes is saltier than the higher lake. These lakes are situated 25 meters below the sea level. Many guests hire small rowing boats to have a wonderful time moving around this lake.
The water which connects the two lakes together has a surface of 20 meters forming three natural waterfalls where it pours smoothly through the plants of papyrus.
This area is considered among the most beautiful sections of Wadi El Rayan due to its natural charm. There are many activities to be carried out for a great experience like fishing, diving, snorkeling, horseback riding, and many other wonderful things to do.
One of the most interesting sections of Wadi El-Rayan is The Valley of the Whales. More than 40 million years, Wadi El Rayan was under a large lake or a sea. However, due to the geological changes, the water was confined in a small area. This leftover many remaining parts of dead creatures which will provide you with an under-water experience.
The creatures included many skeletons of whales, the teeth of many sharks, and many other sea creatures. In fact, a whole complete skeleton of a whale was discovered in this area that is now put on display in the Geological Museum in Cairo.
The part of the springs of Wadi El Rayan is located to the south of the Lower Lakes and it has a surface area of 150 square kilometers.
This Part is featured for having a complete desert environment with the presence of some natural springs of Sulfur water that are appropriate for curative means. There are also some wonderful plants and trees like the famous Ghardaq, the tree that the name of the city of Hurghada is derived from. There are some rare animals as well like the white deer, the Egyptian deer, the Egyptian fox, and the red fox. This is besides more than 100 types of birds and about 16 types of reptiles.
The first who thought to benefit from Wadi El Rayan in modern history was Mohamed Ali, the founder of modern Egypt who ruled over the land of the Nile at the end of the 19th century. Mohamed Ali thought about the idea of restoring the waterfalls of the River Nile in Wadi-El Rayan.
Mohamed Ali had his best engineers work out a plan to take the water of the River Nile and transfer it to the Depression of Wadi El Rayan. However, this project was never completed because they feared that the waterfalls would slide and ruin the city and the governorate of El Fayoum.
Wadi El Rayan was declared as a natural protected area in 1989 to protect the natural, geological, and heritage significance of the region that has a surface area of more than 1750 square kilometers.
The two artificial lakes of Wadi El-Rayan were filled with waterfalls in 1973 when this place was filled with the surplus of the agricultural drainage water. This led to the formation of jungles of reed plants. This created the environment for the existence of many fish and birds. This is besides the marvelous natural scenery that attracts many tourists from all over the world to travel to Egypt to enjoy such beauty and charm.