Wadi El Rayan
Location and Declaration
Wadi EL-Rayan Protected Area (WRPA) is part of the current 30 Egyptian national network of Protected Areas. QPA was established according to the provisions of Law 102/1983, by Prime Ministerial Decree number 943/1989, and its boundaries were later defined in detail by Decree No. 2954/1997. The Nature Conservation Sector of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (NCS/EEAA) is the main government body responsible for the appropriate management of WRPA, and the system network of the Egypt’s Protected Areas as well according to the national legislation Law 102/1983. Wadi El-Rayan Protected Area (WRPA) is located in the western part of the Fayoum Governorate. The protected area was established in 1989, and today is 1,759 km2 and home to Wadi El-Hitan Valley of the Whales World Heritage Site, designated in 2005.
Park Description
Natural features and landscapes, biodiversity, and the World Heritage Site in Wadi El-Hitan have drawn national and international attention to its value. It is located in Fayoum Governorate on the Western Desert of Egypt about 120 Km from Cairo. The WRPA is a popular recreation area due its proximity to Cairo. It is visited by over 360,000 visitors per year. Wadi El-Rayan has a special historical significance as a major crossroad that was used for many centuries by travelers between the Nile Valley and the oases of the Western Desert. Remains of human settlements from Egyptian and Roman-Greek eras are found in the area. Several national/international attractions have drawn the attention for several decades to Wadi El-Rayan Protected Area. Natural landscape and monument landmarks, sand dune extensive fields, waterfalls, lakes, natural and cultural heritage, wetland and bird communities, aquatic system with its associated landscape and many others are among the reasons for increased visitation to WRPA.
Birds of Wadi El-Rayan
Wadi El-Rayan has 174 bird species. Birds are the most visible wildlife in the protected area and can be seen in the lakes, desert, and farmlands. Bird watching is possible throughout the year, but the greatest numbers and diversity of birds occur in winter when the lakes are teeming with migrant water birds. Due to Wadi El-Rayan importance for wintering water birds, it has been designated by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA).
Places to visit
The natural areas like the Rayan waterfalls and beaches attract more than 350,000 visitors per year who enjoy swimming and relaxing in the quiet and beautiful outdoors. The visitors spend money on food, fuel, accommodation and souvenirs, and often hire guides, all of which provide jobs for local residents.
Lakes and Waterfalls
The Wadi El-Rayan depression has been well known to travellers between the Nile Valley and the northern oases of Egypt’s Western Desert for centuries. The lower part of the depression has been gradually covered by two lakes. In the seventies two lakes were created in the lower portion of Wadi El Rayan sub-depression to channel out excess agricultural drainage water in order to slow-down the increase of the water-table in the Fayoum main depression and in the Qaroun lake. The creation of such large body of water in this hyper-arid area had a striking ecological impact: new species of plants, mammals, birds and invertebrates moved to Wadi El Rayan area. Extensive reed beds have formed along the shoreline of WR lakes creating breeding habitat for fish and water birds.
The Wadi has been used for man-made lakes from agricultural drainage which has made a reserve of the two separate Wadi El Rayan Lakes; an upper lake and lower lake, with waterfalls between the two. The upper lake covers approximately 50.90 km2 in the Wadi El-Masakheet sub-depression. From here the water flows through a shallow swampy area and over a waterfall into the lower lake covering approximately a 62.00 km2 . Extensive reed beds have formed along the shoreline creating a breeding habitat for fish and water birds. The waterfall is one of the park’s best-known attractions, the only permanent falls in Egypt.
The waterfalls, located at the main visitor area, is one of the most popular attractions of WRPA, and it is the only waterfall of its kind in Egypt. In this area, cafeterias, boat trips, fishing, are available. Over 150,000 visitors come to this area annually: about 98% of that number from Egyptians and locals.
In 2012, the Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) has announced Wadi El Rayan Protected Area as a Wetlands of International Importance area as it comprises two main lakes and provides the habitat for certain bird species of national, regional and international importance.
Wadi El-Hitan World Heritage Site
In 2005, Wadi El-Hitan (Valley of the Whales), located within the protected area, was nominated by UNESCO-WHC as the first Egyptian Natural World Heritage Site, for its contents of the 40 million years-old whale skeletons, which is recording the story of whales’ evolution (from land to ocean-based animals). According to IUCN-The World Conservation Union, Valley of the Whales is the most significant site in the world to demonstrate the evolution of whales.
Springs Oasis
The protected area contains four brackish springs supporting the highest diversity of desert plants and animal life in the protected area. This area in historic times was the main gateway for Western Desert trade routes into El Fayoum. The springs area is located off the main road west of Lower Lake. Most of the area is restricted to visitors to protect fragile habitats and vulnerable wildlife populations. A viewpoint has been established offering panoramic views of the depression. There is a hiking trail down to the first spring. Surrounding the spring are palm trees and salt marsh vegetation. Birds, reptiles, and insects are the most encountered animals. Tracks are all one usually sees of mammals, most of which are active at night. Several rare and globally threatened animals inhabit the springs area, including Dorcas Gazelle, Rüppell’s Sand Fox and Fennec Fox. It is representing the last remains of Wadi El-Rayan depression’s natural habitat as excellent and uncommon example of an uninhabited Saharan oasis.
The Desert
Wadi El‐Rayan protected area conserves large desert areas containing a variety of landscapes and formations. Rare and fascinating wildlife are found in the deserts of Wadi El‐Rayan along with fossils of creatures of past eras and cultural heritage sites from ancient civilizations.
For more information about the park, please check our Online Library.
Modawara area
This magnificent spot overlooks the beautiful landscape below where deep blue waters meet the golden yellow sands. The magnificent view is framed with rounded sand dunes and limestone escarpments. The mountain is about 18 kilometers from the main gate of WRPA. Plans are being made to establish a camping site on the lakeshore in this area.
Sand Dunes
The dunes offer a calm and clear environment. During the winter, the temperature is cooler making hiking very nice, with dramatic cloud formations. In summer, its hot and a swim in the lake after is recommended! Nice dunes can be found beside the main visitor area and on the south end of the Lower Lake.
Moelah Sand Dunes
The area is marked by moving belts of sand dunes and is separated from the deepest part of the depression by dune fields and rock terraces. The dune fields consist mostly of longitudinal seif dunes, varying from several hundred meters to 30 kilometers in length and up to 30 meters in height. The dunes offer a calm and clear environment. During the winter, the temperature is cooler making hiking very nice, with dramatic cloud formations. In summer, it’s hot and swimming in the lake after is recommended! Nice dunes can be found beside the main visitor area and on the south end of the Lower Lake.