Lake Qarun Protectorate

Lake Qarun protectorate is located in the El Fayoum governorate of Egypt and is a type of wetland. It was established 1989 and covers about 1,358 square kilometers. Cairo is only about 9 km from the protectorate. The Lake is among the most ancient natural lakes on earth and is a part of the pre-existing Morris Lake. The large variety of sea, river, and continent fossils have helped the place in becoming globally renowned.

The fossils here date back to about 40 million years. The fossil of the oldest monkey on earth, Egyptobethks, was also found here dating back to the Oligocene era, and some petrified trees from that period can also be found here. The area is a home to a large variety of amphibians, reptiles, and mammals which make a major part of the environmental system of this area. The presence of historical monuments has helped Lake Quran attract a large number of tourists every year.