El Fayoum

El Fayoum Fayoum Governate is one of the Governates of Egypt and the Capital is the City of Fayoum, and represents the largest natural Oasis in Egypt. Located in the North Upper Egypt Region it includes three Governates, Fayoum, Beni Suef and Minya. Fayoum is noted for the presence of many Natural Places, for example the most famous which is the Lake Qarun Reserve, the Wadi El Rayan Reserve, plus the the Wadi Al-Hitan Reserve which is registered as a World Heritage Site. It also includes a variety of Pharaonic , Roman and Coptic and Islamic Monuments. During the Pharaonic Period Fayoum was part of the twentieth District of Upper Egypt, whose capital was Ihnasiya one of the Centres of the present day Beni Suef Governates, and was depicted as a Fishing Centre which was gathered around Lake Morris, which is better known Today as Lake Qarun. As the Ptolemaic Period took hold the City of Karanis was established , which is located to the North of the Present City of Fayoum and to the East of Lake Qarun, which continued to thrive until the Roman Period and then deteriorated at the end of the third Century AD and the start of the fourth Century, The Historians had differences of opinion about the dates the campaign which was sent by Amr Ibn – al Aas to open the Fayoum Region, some are of the belief it was sent in June of the Year six hundred and forty to attack during thesiege of the Babylon Fortress, however other Groups believe that Muslims did not know until a Year after their entry into Egypt after the fall of the Fortress of Babylon. El Fayoum which is Egypt’s largest Oasis is also the closest to the River Nile and Cairo. Lake Qarun which was formed approx.. seventy thousand Years ago when the Nile overflowed into the Fayoum Depression, so now Canals that connect it to the River maintains the Lake. The Oasis which has Historically been the Garden of Egypt, still produces a vast amount of Fruit and Vegetables today. The Lake is also well known for it’s abundance of Wildlife. A vast amount of Migratory Birds use the Lake in the Fall and the Winter by either stopping or taking a pause on their way further South. Historically it has been a favourite Hunting Ground for the Pharaohs plus more Modern Day Royalty.. Usuually the Visitors do not spend a lot of time in Medinat Al – Fayoum the City but adhere to the area surrounding the Lake, which includes agricultural Land and Marshes. In addition there are several Hotels around which includes the Auberge du Lac, which was originally constructed as a Hunting Lodge for King Farouk who was the Last King of Egypt. But now is a Luxury Hotel. Lake Qarun is a fabulous Place to relax and enjoy a trip in a Rowing Boat which you can easily rent. Fayoum also includes an amount of archeological Sites. Qasr Qarun is a Temple from the Ptolemaic Period which is on the Western Shore of the Lake which was dedicated to Sobek who was the Crocodile God whose offspring used to flourish in the Oasis, however most of Fayoum’s archeological wealth comes from the Middle Kingdom, where the Oasis was a centre of Political Power within Egypt. Consisting of four groups of Pyramids which are spread in the Desert around Fayoum is the result. Many of these are in bad condition reason being that the inferior and substantial Construction techniques which were used by the Pharaohs of the Middle Kingdom in building the Pyramids .Unfortunatly the Pyramids at Lahun, Lisht and Hawara are in terrible condition, so much so that some resemble just piles of rubble in the shape of a Pyramid, however the fourth Pyramid at Meidum is more Impressive due to it’s very unique Structure.