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Location:
29o24´- 29o23´N, 30o25´- 30o51´E
Area:
230 km2
Type:
Wetland of International Importance
Year of establishment:
Objective:
Management:
Geographical aspects:
The Lake is in the Fayoum Province, 40 km in length,
5.7 km in width and 34 to 43 m below sea level with
a mean depth of 4.2 m. Groundwater appears to be continuously
seeping from a number of sub-surface springs at the
lake bottom. A gently sloping sand-plain extends from
the lakeshore northwards and upwards to reach sea level
at 7 km north of the shoreline. The lake is an important
archeological site because of the presence of marine,
fluvial and continental environment all in one area
with a unique collection of fossil fauna and flora that
goes back to some 40 million years.
Flora:
Occasional and sparse vegetation of mostly Tamarix nilotica,
Nitraria retusa and Alhagi maurorum are found. Some
salt-marsh vegetation is present due to the brackish
water from the main drainage canals.
Fauna:
Lake Quaroun is well known for wetland of international
importance for waterbirds. The internationally important
concentrations are Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis,
Shoveler Anas clypeata and Slender-billed Gull Larus
genei. The internationally important Little Tern Sterna
albiforns breeds here. The lake produces an average
of 900 tons of fish and shrimps annually.
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