Siwa Oasis
Siwa Oasis. Also known as Isiwan (Berber language), it is an urban oasis in the Egyptian Sahara, nearly 50 km east of the Libyan boarder. Siwa Oasis is probably Egypt's most isolated settlement. It takes up to 12 hours to reach it from Cairo and around 10 hours from Alexandria. The majority of the inhabitants are Berbers who developed an unique culture and a distinct language in this insulation.
The dimensions of the oasis are vast: 80 km in length and 50 km in width. It consists of mainly palm tree agriculture and salt production from the oasis' salt lakes. Before the Arab Spring, the tourism was on the rise, however, following the Libyan Civil War and the Egyptian Crises, the European Union Member States and many other countries have issued a travel warning for this Sahara region.
Ammonium
Siwa Oasis played a significant role in the ancient world, as it was home to the Oracle of Ammon. Thus, Siwa Oasis was called Ammonium. The "Temple of the Oracle of Ammon to Gebel el-Dakrour", the Oracle of Zeus in Dodona and the Oracle of Apollo in Delphi were the three oracles known to the ancient world. In 332 BC, the oracle in Siwa confirmed Alexander the Great as both a divine personage and the legitimate Pharaoh of Egypt.
Temple of the Oracle of Ammon to Gebel el-Dakrour
Gorgeous and Beautiful: The Sahara
Sahara and Siwa Town
Despite the tremendous historical importance of Siwa Oasis, this place offers a lot more than history.
The Sahara desert surrounding the oasis is tantalizing and beautiful. It offers gorgeous sand dunes, dazzling rock formations, huge areas of former sea life fossilizations, as well as ancient Egyptian burial sites. Apart from that, the town of Siwa features the "Shali", the dilapidated historical center, the Mountain of the Dead and many other attractions.
“Not many tourists have lost their way into the Siwa Oasis, as it is located so secluded in the desert. When visiting the historical sites, you usually find yourself alone within these ancient walls and ruins. No guards, no minder, not even ticket counters.
During the night, the loudest noises you can hear are donkey calls.
All together, this is generating an unique atmosphere!”
Contravene: Fatnas Island, an Island on a Lake in the Desert.
G A L L E R Y
© 2018