It is also home to the countrys only waterfalls.
The Fayoum oasis originally drained into Lake Qarun in the north.
But the lake can take only a certain volume of drainage water.
Consequently, until recently water-intensive crops such as rice and reeds could be grown only in very small quantities.
Furthermore, no new land could be reclaimed without causing swamping of existing farmland near Lake Qarun.
Drainage water now flows into Wadi El Rayan forming two large lakes.
As the course of the stream was eroded, natural rocks were exposed and waterfalls formed over them.
There are several cascades on the stream, none of them taller than 2 to 4 meters.
Yet, they have attracted considerable attention among the local Egyptians, as many have never seen waterfalls before.
The waterfalls have also been featured in many Egyptian pop videos and films.
Photo credit: Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa
Photo credit:Hatem Moushir/Wikimedia
Sources:Tour Egypt/Egypt-Uncovered/Wondermondo
