Stay updated!
The waterfalls in Wadi el-Rayan are a natural phenomenon, and are considered to be the largest waterfalls in Egypt.
Wadi el-Rayan is distinguished by its springs in the middle of the desert and small cascades. The well-watered area is home to rare bird species that nest on the shores of the local lakes.
In the last quarter of the 20th century, two lakes were created in Wadi el Rayan, the great desert depression west of the Fayoum oasis. Initially, three reservoirs were planned to fill a dried-out bed 43 meters deep, but one of the reservoirs was dry.
Currently, water is supplied to them through a 9 km open canal and an 8 km tunnel that crosses the desert in the western part of the Fayoum oasis. The northern lake is situated higher than the southern one, therefore there are numerous waterfalls on the canal connecting them. They are several meters high and suddenly emerge from behind the bends of the canal covered with reeds. Whoever wants to see this Egyptian phenomenon must hurry as the waterfalls will disappear when the water level in the lakes equalizes.
The area of Wadi el-Rayan is protected (Wadi el-Rayan Protectorate).