By

Dr. Ahmed M. El-Bossery

2020

A nature reserve is an area of land or water expanse, whether coastal or

internal, which is characterized by availability of living creatures such
as plants, animals and fish or considered nature phenomena of cultural,
scientific or touristic or aesthetic significance.

Nature reserves aim at safeguarding natural resources, maintaining

wholesome environmental processes and conserving hereditary
biological diversity of living creatures species activating within the
environmental system.
For the conservation of nature habitats and biological diversity, Law no
102 of the year 1983 was issued, which stipulates the prohibition of any
act, behavior or activity that results in the demolish, damage,
deterioration or aesthetic degradation of the natural environment such
as the wildlife, sealife or plantlife in the nature reserves.

In the context of this law, ministerial decrees were issued, specifying 201
nature reserves on 8.5% of the
total area of the Republic, and
which represent several distinct
environmental features and
natural Phenomena. Besides, 19
Zones that were defined as future
nature reserves so as to secure
protection of 15% of Egypt's area
by the year 2017.

Natural Protectorates Description

1 - Ras Mohamed Protected Area and Tyran as well as Sanafir in South
Sinai Governorate
 Date of Announcement: 1983
Area: 850 Km2
Type: World Heritage Protected Area
Distance from Cairo: 446 Km

This protected Area is located at the meeting point of the Gulf of Suez
and Aqaba Gulf. The Eastern border of Ras Mohamed Protected Area is a
rocky wall with the gulf water where there are coral reefs. There is also
the Mangrove channel which separates Ras Mohamed Peninsula from
Elbayra Island at a length of approximately 250m. Ras Mohamed Area is
characterized by the coral shores existing in the depth of the water
peripheral of Ras Mohamed and the extinctionable colored fish and Sea
turtles as well as rare Sea Animals. The Coral reefs surround Ras
Mohamed from all its sea sides. They have a unique formation which has
a great impact on the natural life of the Area. The land Falls or
"earthquakes" formed water caves under the island. The Area is also a
habitat for many important birds and animals such as: The Nubian ibex in
the mountainous areas, small mammals, reptiles and insects that appear
only at night. The Area is also a habitat for many important birds such as
herons and seagulls.

2 - Zaraniq Protected Area and El Bardwaeel Marsh in the North Sinai

Governorate

Date of Announcement: 1985

Area : 230 Km2
Type: Wetland protected area and a natural
restricted area for birds
Distance from Cairo: 300 Km
Zaraniq protected Area and El Bardaweel Marsh are key points for bird
migration in the world since it is the first stop for the birds to have
comfort and food after the trouble of the migration trip from Europe and
Asia during the fall heading from African. Some birds take this Area as a
permanent habitat for living and reproduction. Over 270 species of birds
have been recorded in the area. They represent 14 classes. The most
important birds recorded are: Pelicans, herons storks, crestet lark, quail,
white stork, lark, avocet, Hem Harrier Rail and falcon.
Download Visitors Leaflet
3 - Coast Marshes Area in Rafah North Sinai Governorate (Ahrash
Protectorate)

Date of Announcement: 1985

Area: 8 Km2
Type: Developing resources protected area
Distance from Cairo: 370 Km
The Marshes protected Area is characterized by the sand dunes, whose
height is approximately is 60 m of the sea level. They are covered by a
high density of acacia trees, some tomorx trees, camphor trees, bushes,
grass, pastoral and fodder plants, which make the Area a good resource of
pastures, timber, and a shelter for animals and wild birds, They help
stabilize sand dunes and warbers located within the framework of
protection in order to maintain an important form of the Mediterranean
coastal environments.

4 - Elba Natural Protected Area in the Red Sea Governorate

Date of Announcement: 1986

Area: 35600 Km2
Type:National Park Protected Area
Distance from Cairo: 1300 Km
Elba natural protected Area is located in the southern eastern part of the
eastern desert. Its mountains are located on the joint borders of Egypt and
the Sudan on the Red Sea. Elba Area has the following distinguished
Ecosystem models:

 Alshura and Qandeel Mangrove woods on the Coastal zones.

 Limited areas of Coastal sand dunes covered with grass.
 With grass sphere of coastal saline land " Coastal Marshes"
 Desert Coastal plains.
 Coastal mountains and their surrounding hills where there are mist
oasis.

In such environments there are the most types of Egyptian extinctionable

animals, birds, reptiles, medical and wild plants. Elba natural protected
Area consists of the following :

 Red Sea Islands and coastal mangrove woods.

 Elabraq Area.
 El Da'eeb area.
 Elba Mountain.
5 - Elomayed Natural Protected Area in Matrouh Governorate

Date of Announcement: 1986

Area: 700 Km2
Type:Desert Area and vital peripheral
Distance from Cairo: 300 Km
There are around 170 species of wild plants growing in different
ecosystem, be they sand dunes or internal hills. Studies showed that this
wild plants have economic and medical benefits since there are about 70
species that can used for medical and thera peutical purposes like squall,
wormwood, plantain, wood, sorrel. There are also 60 species that can be
used for different purposes including fuel like buckthorn and boxthorn, as
source of oils and soap like Ghoul Henna, as a human food like onion, for
landscaping like Dirsesh-shaayib for manufacturing ropes and roofs like
Boos reed, and for pasturing like Dabaagh and Tafwa. There are about 40
species of plants that have important environmental roles such as
detaining sand and building new layers. There are several wild animals in
the Area like deer, foxes, rabbits, jerboa, chameleon and scorpion. There
are also 14 species of wild birds.

6 - Saloga, Ghazal and the Small Islands in between (First waterfall) in

Aswan Governorate

Date of Announcement: 1986

Area: 0.5 Km2
Type:Wetlands and landscape
Distance from Cairo: 700 Km
The Area is characterized by the sovereignty of some types of trees like
acacia. The greenery in the Area includes about 94 different species of
plants including those that solely grow in these islands, specially
alongside the Nile Valley. The distinguished natural conditions provided
for these islands life opportunity for resident and migrating birds. More
than 60 species of birds were recorded, including rare and extinctionable
birds on the international level, including species that have lived and
reproduced on those islands since the Ancient Egyptian times, they are
recorded in their scriptures and remnants, such as bittern, hoopoe and
Egyptian geese.
Download Visitors Leaflet

7 - Ashtoom El-Gamil and Tenis Island Protected Area in Port Said

Governorate
 Date of Announcement: 1988
Area: 180 Km2
Type: Wetlands and Natural restricted Area for
birds
Distance from Cairo: 200 Km
The protected Area includes the bays of El Gamil and Ashtoon El Gamil
and Al Manzala lagoon. Tenis island is located in El Manzala lagoon, The
largest among Delta lagoons with various environmental systems. El
Manzala lagoon Area was a rich agricultural land that fell down due to an
earthquake that occurred in the late sixth century, the sea water
overflowed the sand dunes which used to separate the sea from the
agricultural land. The water gradually covered the land year after year
except the renowned Tenis. It was a large city with great buildings and
markets. It had palm trees, grapes and farms. It had high water channels
pouring water in the sea currently known as Ashtoom. It was called Tenis
after Tenis the son of Ham, the son of Noah.

8 - Saint Katherine Protected Area in South Sinai

Date of Announcement: 1988

Area: 4250 Km2
Type:World cultural and Natural heritage protected
area
Distance from Cairo: 500 Km
The Area is characterized by the highest mountain tops in Egypt. These
tops were the result of that great tectonic movement called the Great
African Rift that occurred 24 Million years ago and led to the creation of
the Red Sea and the Aqaba Gulf, which became the attraction of tourists
from all over the world. Saint Katherine Protected Area has abundant
natural riches and cultural heritage. It has a natural habitat for several
plants and animals.
For example:

 Wild Life: Mammals like the Nubian Ibex, Drocas - Gazalla

Egyptian deer, hyrax, Sinai tiger, wolf, hyena, fox, lizard,
hedgehog, echinate rat, and jerboa etc. There are 27 species of
reptiles like serpents, vipro dab lizards, monitor lizards, and snakes
etc.
 Plant Life: The Area also has 22-28 species that are exist only in
Sinai like , samm, Habaq, sorrel wood, thyme, worm wood, buck
thorn, tarfa, sakaraan, Ba'ataran and other medical and poisonous
plants.
  Ancient Heritage: There are a lot of churches and monasteries like
St. Katherine Monastery, and relics from the Byzantine, Pharaonic
and later eras.
 Scenery: The Area is very high and has the highest mountains in
Egypt like St. Katherine, Serbal, Um Shomer, Thabet, mountainous
scenery, oases around water springs and wells that are unique
attractions worldwide.

Download Visitors Leaflet

9 - Wadi Al-Alaqi in Aswan Governorate

Date of Announcement: 1989

Area: 30000 Km2
Type: Desert Protected Area and Biosphere Reserve
Distance from Cairo: 950 Km
This Wadi is a large dry river that used to rise from the Red Sea hills
especially Elba mountain. After the construction of the High Dam and
filling lake Naser with water, the water flowed into Wadi Al -Alaqi and it
became part of the Lake. Since the water level became low in the lake,
the water has gone down off a great part of the Wadi and accordingly it
became uncovered with water. It has greenery, its soil is rich and it is a
kind of pasture for animals. Wadi Al -Alaqi is a good example for dry
lands, however it exhibits an astounding picture of botanical variety. 92
species of plants have been reported.

10 - The Petrified Forest Area in Maadi - Cairo

Date of Announcement: 1989

Area: 7 Km2
Type: Geological protected area and a national
heritage
Distance from Cairo: 30 Km
The Rocky wood Area is abundant of dense rocky stems of trees in the
formation of the wood mountain that belongs to the Oligocene epoch. It
consists of layers of sand, gravel, mud and rocky wood with a thickness
of 70-100 meters. It is significantly rich with remains and stems of large
rocky trees, taking the shape of rocks with cylindrical sections varying in
dimension from a few centimeters up to several meters. They are grouped
together in a rocky wood.
Thus, the formation of the rocky wood in Maadi is most probably
attributed to one of the ancient branches of the River Nile from ancient
geological era. It carried those trees along and threw them in that place
where they were buried and changed into rocks.

11 - Wadi Al-Asioutty Protected Area in Asiout Governorate

Date of Announcement: 1989

Area: 35 Km2
Type: Captive and multipurpose protected area
Distance from Cairo: 400 Km
The protected Area is divided into two major sections:

 Captive and Breeding wild animals: There are possibilities of

captive and breeding Egyptian deer, mountain goats, bighorn,
ostrich, zebra and some reptiles.
 Captive and plant genes: Since there is a need to collect plant
genes threatened with extinction, especially palm trees, some types
of trees, bushes, plantations, cactus, juicy plants and medical and
aromatic plants that are genes of important economic crops, several
types of them have been planted in the protected area where the
wild genes are collected from the vicinity for reproduction.

12 - Wadi El-Rayan Protected Area in Fayoum Governorate

Date of Announcement: 1989

Area: 1759 Km2
Type: Developing management resources protected
area and a natural national heritage
Distance from Cairo: 150 Km
Wadi El -Rayan area is characterized by its integrated desert
environment, consisting of sand dunes, natural springs, large water bodies
and a different botanical life, different wild animals and important and
various sea fossils. The area of El-Rayan lake is a calm natural
environment and free of pollution.
Wadi El- Rayan consists of the following important areas:

 Waterfall Area: this area was formed due to the gathering of

farming drainage waterfalls. It is a place for various sea sports.
 The area of Oyoun El-Rayan: consists of long dense movable
sand dunes. It has four natural sulfuric springs. It is characterized by
the existence of plant groups that contain 15 species of desert plants
and about 15 types of wild mammals like the white deer, the
Egyptian deer, sand fox, red fox and others, and 16 species of
reptiles, and over 100 species of resident and migrating birds.
  The Area of El-Rayan mountain El-Mashgaeega Mountain: It
includes deep canyons known as split rock. It is one of the favorite
places to see a panorama of Wadi El Rayan and picnics.
 Wadi Al-Hitan: It is an Area of fossils in the western north of
Wadi El Rayan protected Area, it dates back to 40 million years.
These fossils of petrified primitive whales skeletons, shark teeth,
shells and other sea animals that are considered as an open museum.
The roots of Mangroves preserved in soft rocks.

The importance of Wadi El-Rayan is attributed to the fact that it is a

natural environment for animals threatened with extinction like white
deer, Egyptian deer, sand fox, wolf and rare migrating birds like shahin
falcon, deer falcon, free falcon, and other types of migrating birds like
some kinds of ducks, quail, some kinds of herons, goats and others. Wild
plants like: Aqool, zygoghyllum, Athl Tomarex, Halfa, Ghatdaa, Ghaab,
Sammaar, reed and others.
Download Visitors Leaflet

13 - Quaron Lake Protected Area in El-Fayoum Governorate

Date of Announcement: 1989

Area: 1385 Km2
Type: Wetlands
Distance from Cairo: 90 Km
It is one of the ancient natural lakes in the world . It is the remaining part
of the ancient Morris lake. It is globally renowned for the abundance of
sea, river, continent fossils which date back to 40 million years like El-
Fayoum Giant animal which resembles rhinoceros. There was a huge
river mouth that had sedimentary cycles upon which the ancient elephants
ancestors, sea horse and dolphins, also sharks and birds ancestors which
live in Africa. The fossils of Egyptobethks, the oldest monkey in the
world appeared and it dates back to the Oligocene periad, and the
existence of some Petrified trees. In this Area, there is a large variety of
kinds of reptiles, amphibians and mammals that have a great importance
in the environmental system of the protected area. The existence of a lot
of historical monuments "North Qaroon Lake represents cultural heritage
that is utilized in Tourism. They date back to the Roman and Pharanoic
Period, Qaret Al-Rusas Area in the North East of the Lake, the area of
churches and Abu Lifa Monastery.

14 - Hassana Dome Protected Area in Giza Governorate

 Date of Announcement: 1989
Area:1 Km2
Type: Geological protected area
Distance from Cairo: 23 Km
Hassana Dome protected Area is a museum and specialized scientific
institute that helps in studying geology and different geological
formations like folds, Foults, also they can be compared with similar
formations in other places. The existence of fossils gathering in perfect
reserved colonies, makes Hassona Dome a perfect area for studying
fossils science or the science of paleo life and also the features of the
ancient environment and the extent of climate change which took place in
the Area, especially the cretaceaus period ,which characterized this area.
The colonies of coral reefs fossils that characterized this area are the best
guiding fossils that refer to the paleo environment, so these Morine fossils
represent a complete record of the Ancient history.

15 - Wadi Sanor Cave Protected Area in Beni Sueif Governorate

Date of Announcement: 1992

Area:12 Km2
Type: Geological protected area and national
heritage
Distance from Cairo: 200 Km
The protected area contains geological formations known as stalactites
and stalgmites in a perfect beautiful way that formed through million
years. Its formation dates back to the middle Eocene period about 60
million years. As a result of the leakage of calcium carbonate saturated
water solutions through the roof of the cave, then evaporated leaving
behind those minerals that accumulated taking the shape of stalactites and
stalgmites. The cave extends for 700m. It is 15m wide and 15 m deep.
The importance of this cave is attributed to the rarity of these natural
formations in the Egypt. They shed light on the circumstances of the
ancient climate in this area and the age of its formation. It gives the
researchers the chance to make comparative detailed studies according to
the change in the nature of the Ancient environmental circumstances that
dominated the middle Eocene period.

16 - Nabq Protected Area in South Sinai Governorate

Date of Announcement: 1992

Area: 600 Km2
Type: Multipurpose protected area
Distance from Cairo: 500 Km
Nabq protected Area is characterized by a number of important
environmental systems like: coral reefs, sea and land creatures, large
dense mangrove woods. It includes environmental systems of desert,
mountain and valleys, and animals like deer, mountain goat, hyena,
reptiles and a lot of migrating and resident birds beside invertebrates.
Some nomad tribes live in this area. The area is a center of tourist
attraction for amateurs of diving, safari and bird watching.
Download Visitors Leaflet

17 - Abu Gallum Protected Area in South Sinai Governorate

Date of Announcement: 1992

Area: 500 Km2
Type: landscape protected area
Distance from Cairo: 500 Km

The importance of Abu - Gallum area is represented in the existence of a

special Topography. The mountains are near the beaches and include
various environmental systems of coral reefs, sea creatures, sea herbs,
lagoons, mountain and desert environment systems. The mountains and
valleys are abundant of wild animals, birds and plants, which make the
area a tourist attraction for the amateurs of diving, safari as well as bird
and animal watching. The area comprises around 165 species of plants
including 44 that only exist in this area. The area is known for the cave
system existing under the water for more than 100 m. deep. This system
is unstable and extremely dangerous. Therefore, it is necessary to
maintain this cave system and the environmental system of the area,
which is an element of tourist attraction.
Download Visitors Leaflet

18 - Taba Protected Area in South Sinai Governorate

Date of Announcement: 1998

Area:3595 Km2
Type: Desert and natural heritage protected area
Distance from Cairo: 550 Km
The area is characterized by its distinguished Geological formations and
monument sites that date back to 5000 years ago, as well the rare wild life
and nice scenery and traditional heritage of nomads: Some of these
valleys are significant as a support for wild life like deer, large birds
including bustard. These valleys have important plant communities like
acacia. 72 species of plants have been recorded in water valley including
Ba'ataran, Ratam and Rimth. In the adjacent areas there is a big group of
plants amounting to 480 species. A group of hills that are over 1000 m.
high exist in the area. They are beautiful enough to attract all kinds of
tourists. The rocks have several splits and a crossed separations, and
represent a habitat for plants and animals. The animals of the area include
hyrax, Nubian ibex, wol, hyena, deer and others. There are some wild
birds like Egyptian vulture, eagle Brearded vulture and the golden eagle
on top of mountains. The area is also distinguished with a group of water
springs like Hadra spring in Wadi Ghazala and Oum Ahmed spring in
Wadi Elswana, Fortaga spring in Wadi Wateer, which can be easily
visited, and flow on the ground surface.

19 - El-Brolus Protected Area in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate

Date of Announcement: 1998

Area: 460 Km2
Type: wetlands protected area
Distance from Cairo: 300 Km
El-Brolus lake is the second largest natural lagoon in Egypt. It has a
number of environments including saline and cane swamps as well as
sand plains. On the Lagoon shores there are high sand dunes. Each of
these environments has its own soil characteristics. This reflects on the
importance of these environments as a natural place for almost 135
amphibious plant species. The wetland environments have a significant
role in receiving immigrating wild birds.

20 - Nile River Islands Protected Area in Different Governorate

Date of Announcement: 1998

Area 160 Km2
Type: Wet lands protected area
Distance from Cairo: 144 islands in different
Governorate

The Nile River islands are natural protected areas amounting to 144
islands in different Governorates in Egypt. Alongside the main stream
from Aswan until the Barrages, there are 95 Islands within anrea of
32500 Feddans. In Rasheed branch there are 30 islands within an area of
3400 Feddans, in Damietta Branch there are 19 islands within and area of
1250 Feddans. The total area of all the Nile River islands is 37150
Feddans.
21- Wadi Degla Protected Area in Cairo Governorate

Date of Announcement: 1999

Area: 60 Km2
Type: Desert lands protected area
Distance from Cairo: 10 Km

Wadi Degla is one of the important valleys which extend from east to
west with a length of 30 km. It passes through the limestone rocks that
had remained in the marine environment during the Eocene Epoch in the
eastern desert (60 million years). Therefore, it is rich with fossils. The
height of these rocks alongside the valley is around 50 m. A group of
valleys flew into this valley. The valley has a group of animals including
mammals like dear, taital, mountain rabits, red fox, feather tailed rat,
oviparous, barbed rat, little tailed bat and others. Among the insects there
are and many others. 18 species of reptiles have been recorded. The rain
water dropping from the waterfalls affected the limestone rocks along the
years and formed the so called canyon Degla, which resembles the Grand
Canyon in the U.S.

22 - Natural Siwa Protected Area in Matrouh Governorate

Date of Announcement: 2002

Area: 7800 Km2
Type: Desert and cultural protected area
Distance from Cairo: 800 Km
Siwa Oasis is one of the areas rich with distinguished tourists attractions
including monuments tourism, therapeutic tourism, safari tourism and
desert tourism, due to its distinctive monuments area such as Amoun
temple as well as the scriptures and paintings of kings offering sacrifice
to Gods. The hall of crowning Alexander the Great, the Dead Mountain in
Aldakrour area, which has some ancient mummeries and tombs from the
Roman age, having a group of coins and old jewelry . There is also
Deheba area which includes tombs engraved in the rocks from the Greek
Roman era, and also Khamisa area including a group of tombs dating
back to the Greek age. The biological variety of Siwa is characterized by
the existence of more than 40 species of wild plants including medical,
pastoral and other plants that help stabilize sand. Some of them have
significant genetic origins, besides mimosa and Athl trees. Moreover,
there are around 28 species of wild mammals, some of them are
threatened with extinction like hyena, Egyptian deer, white deer, red fox
and, in addition 32 reptiles and around 164 species of birds besides
numerous invertebrates and insects.
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23 - Natural White Desert Protected Area in El Wady EL Gedid

Date of Announcement: 2002

Area: 3010 Km2
Type: Desert and landscape protected area
Distance from Cairo: 570 Km
The importance of the white desert area is attributed to the fact that it is a
unique model of the Karst phenomenon. It is an open museum for
studying desert environments, geographical phenomena, fossils and wild
life. It has relics and tombs that date back to prehistory and include a
group of rare tombs and caves remains of ancient mummies and carvings.
The area is distinguished with the beauty of the sand dunes. Geological
formations of bright white limestone rocks and distinctive fossils. The
white desert area has aground of white chalk where the geological
formations are spread in the shape of snowy white chalk columns formed
by the act of wind and sloppy hills, a matter which gives the area a unique
nature and geological position. Al-Farafra fall crosses the white chalk
layer which is a part of an obviously spread rocky unit known as the
chalk unit.
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24 - Wadi El Gemal - Hamata Protected Area

Date of Announcement: 2003

Area: 7450 Km2
Type: Desert protected area
Distance from Cairo: 850 Km
Location and description of Wadi El Gemal - Hamata Protected
Area: The Protected Area encompasses the segment of the Red Sea
coastal plain and mountains extending roughly between 24°51'N in the
north and 24°06'N in the south; and between the Red Sea shoreline in the
east to about 34°28'E in the west (the Sheikh Shazli road). The protected
area also encompasses a section of the marine environment including the
islands of Hamata and Wadi El Gemal Island.
Description of Wadi El Gemal - Hamata Protected Area: The
protected area includes marine and terrestrial components. The terrestrial
component encompasses roughly a 50 X 50 km segment of the Red Sea
hills and coastal desert. Wadi El Gemal and its delta are the central theme
of the protected area and the area encompasses the entire watershed of the
wadi. However, the protected area takes in other adjacent desert and
marine habitats, which complement the wadi, both ecologically and
functionally (i.e. in terms of representing a meaningful management unit).
Wadi El Gemal is the third largest wadi in the Eastern Desert draining
into the Red Sea, and one of the best vegetated, with an estimated
watershed area of some 1,840 km² (GEF 1998). The wadi watershed
includes the northern flanks of Gebel Hamata in the south, as well as the
southern flanks of Gebel Nugrus in the north. Several other important
wadis are encompassed in the protected area such as Wadi Abu Ghosoun,
Wadi El Ringa and Wadi El Rada. Several important peaks are included
such as Gebel Hamata Gebel Nugrus, Gebel Hafafit, Gebel Hamamid,
Gebel Sartut and Gebel Sikeit. The shores of the region are heterogeneous
in nature encompassing rocky, sandy and muddy beaches. The coastline
has several important landmarks such as the headlands of Ras Baghdadi
and Ras Hankorab, and Sarm El Luli bay. The marine component of the
protected area encompasses a strip of marine waters of an average width
of 15 km. This component includes all the important coral reefs in the
region, as well as four marine islands (the Hamata archipelago and Wadi
El Gemal Island).
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25 - Red Sea Northern Islands

Date of Announcement: 2006

Area: 1991 Km2
Type: Developing resources protected area

26 - El Gulf El Kebeer

Date of Announcement: 2007

Area: 48523 Km2
Type: Natural and Cultural National Park Protected Area

27 - El-Dababya

Date of Announcement: 2007

Area: 1 Km2
Type: Geological protected area

28 - El-Salum

Date of Announcement: 2010

Area: 383 Km2
Type: Marine protected area

29 - El-Wahat El-Bahreya

Date of Announcement: 2010

Area: 109 Km2
Type: Natural Heritage protected area

30 - Mount Kamel Meteor Protectorate

Date of Announcement: 2012