Egypt’s largest oasis is also the closest to the Nile and Cairo. Lake Qarun was formed around 70,000 years ago when the Nile overflowed into the Fayoum Depression. Now canals that connect it to the river maintain the lake. The oasis has historically been the “garden of Egypt” and it still produces a large amount of fruit and vegetables today. The lake is also noted for its abundance of wildlife.
Huge numbers of migratory birds use the lake in the winter and fall, either stopping here or pausing on their way further south. It has been a historically favorite hunting ground for pharaohs and more modern nobility alike.
As a result, there are four groups of pyramids scattered in the desert around Fayoum. Most of these are in poor condition due to the generally inferior and less substantial building techniques used by Middle Kingdom pharaohs in building pyramids. The pyramids at Lahun, Lisht, and Hawara are in very poor shape—to the extent that some of them only resemble piles of rubble in a roughly pyramidal form, but the fourth pyramid at Meidum is more impressive, especially for its very unusual structure.
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Plan Your TripِAncient Egyptian History
- The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt
- Alexander the Great | Egypt History
- Queen Hatshepsut | Luxor | Egypt
- Tutankhamoun King | Ancient Egypt Kingdom
- Salah Al-Din Al-Ayyubi
- King Ramses II: Facts, Accomplishments, Life and Death
- Sultan Mohammad Ali
- Amr Ibn Al-Aas
- The Old Kingdom of Ancient Egypt
- The New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt
- Greco-Roman Period
- Early Islamic Period in Egypt
- Mamluk and Ottoman Period
- Egypt in the Modern Era
- Behind the Throne: Exploring the Life and Reign of Queen Cleopatra of Egypt
Cairo Attractions
- Al Aqmar Mosque | Cairo | Egypt
- Sultan Al Mansur Qalawun Mosque | Cairo
- Al Azhar Mosque | Cairo | Egypt
- Amr Ibn Al Aas Mosque | Old Cairo
- Mu’ayyad Mosque and Bab Zuweila
- Museum of Islamic Art | Cairo
- Sultan Hassan Mosque & Madrasa | Islamic Cairo
- Ibn Tulun Mosque and Gayer Anderson Museum
- Bayt Al Suhaymi in Cairo | Al Suhaymi House
- Cairo Opera House
- The Coptic Museum in Cairo
- The Egyptian Museum in Cairo
- El Ghorya | Attractions in Cairo Egypt
- Ben Ezra Synagogue | Coptic Cairo
- Khan El Khalili Bazaar
- Old Cairo and Coptic Cairo
- Salah El Din Citadel in Cairo | Egypt
- The Hanging Church | Coptic Cairo
- Al-Muizz Al-Deen Allah Street
- Downtown Cairo
- Zamalek / Gezira
- Islamic Cairo
- Souk Al Khayamiya | Tentmakers Bazaar
Alexandria Attractions
- Alexandria Travel Guide | Egypt
- Marsa Alam Information
- Qaitbay Citadel in Alexandria | Fort Qaitbay Egypt
- Pompey's Pillar (Column) in Alexandria | Egypt
- Al Alamein | Mediterranean Sea Egypt
- Alexandria Library Egypt | Bibliotheca Alexandria
- Experience the Heart of the Mediterranean: Your Guide to the Best Things to Do in Alexandria, Egypt
- The Catacombs of Kom el-Shuqafa | Alexandria
- Greco-Roman Museum
- Lighthouse of Alexandria
- Montazah Park Alexandria | Egypt
Luxor Attractions
Aswan Attractions
Nile Valley
Red Sea and Sinai
Ports of Call
Lake Nasser
Egyptian Culture and Travel Info
Enjoy Fayoum Trips from Cairo visiting El Fayoum major sights, Wadi El Rayan, Wadi Hitan, Mudawara Mountain with Memphis Tours, Your gate to the country that has little bit of everything everything.
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Nearly 350 miles from Cairo, this incredible speck of green in the sea of yellow sand is the place for desert daydreams. Sitting about 25m below sea level and brimming with olive trees and palms, Siwa Oasis casts a spell on her visitors that’s hard to resist.