Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
Wadi El Rayan was originally an arid desert depression located to the south-west of Fayoum, with an average elevation of 43 m below sea-level and a maximum depth of 64 m below sea-level. As of 1973, excess drainage water from Fayoum was diverted into the depression, flooding large parts of it. Two large lakes were formed as a result. The first lake reached its current level of 5 m below sea-level in 1978. The second lake, which lies at a lower elevation, has a current estimated water-level of 20 m below sea-level and is still in the process of filling. It is expected that the water-level in the lake will be allowed to reach 13 m below sea-level. About 0.25 km³ of drainage-water reaches the lakes of Wadi El Rayan annually (salinity 1 g/l). This is carried through a canal and a tunnel, which link the first lake and El Wadi Drain and flows from the first lake to the second via a shallow, swampy canal and a small waterfall. Because water-levels in the first lake have been stable for a considerable length of time, a very dense growth of
Phragmites and
Tamarix has developed along the shores of this lake. In contrast, the second lake has scant cover along its shores because of the constantly, though slowly, rising level of water in it. Salinity is also rising slowly in the second lake (which has no outflow) as a result of evaporation. The salt-level in the lake is currently about 2.5 g/l, but it is only a matter of time before it becomes as saline as Lake Qarun. Salinity is expected to remain stable in the first lake, since it is constantly flushed. The lakes of Wadi El Rayan produced an average of 477 tonnes of fish annually between 1980 and 1990, composed mostly of
Tilapia sp. and
Mugil sp.
To the west of the lakes of Wadi El Rayan is a further, shallower, sandy depression that supports three natural springs and extensive desert scrub. A limestone escarpment surrounds the depression on all sides except the east, where it is closed off by a series of high longitudinal
dunes. The vegetation is dominated by shrubs of
Alhagi,
Nitraria,
Calligonum and
Tamarix. This is an excellent and rare example of an undeveloped Saharan oasis.
See Box for key species. The lakes of Wadi El Rayan have become fairly important wintering grounds for waterbirds and appear to be increasing in importance. A total of 12,600 waterbirds were counted in January 1995. Most numerous were
Podiceps cristatus,
Podiceps nigricollis,
Aythya fuligula,
Aythya ferina and
Fulica atra. The second lake holds more waterbirds than the first, because of its larger size and its greater isolation. The second lake also supports a substantial breeding population of
Porphyrio porphyrio. Other breeding species include
Tachybaptus ruficollis,
Ixobrychus minutus,
Egretta garzetta,
Gallinula chloropus and
Acrocephalus stentoreus. The desert habitats of Wadi El Rayan spring area also hold a number of Sahara–Sindian biome restricted species. At least four of these species are known or are expected to breed in the area. These are
Falco concolor,
Bubo ascalaphus,
Oenanthe lugens and
Alaemon alaudipes.
Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: four threatened mammals are found in the desert habitats of Wadi El Rayan. Gazella leptoceros (EN) occurred until the mid-1980s, but has probably become locally extirpated. Gazella dorcas (VU) is still found in the area in small numbers, but is rapidly declining. Both Vulpes zerda (DD) and Vulpes rueppelli (DD) are scarce and are also declining due to illegal hunting.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Wadi El Rayan was declared a Protected Area by Prime Ministerial Decree 943/1989. There is an ongoing, Italian-funded project, in cooperation with the EEAA, to develop the management and infrastructure of the protected area, and this is addressing many of the conservation issues. The greatest threat to the area comes from a land-claim project (in progress) which aims at cultivating 15,000 feddan of desert, right in the centre of Wadi El Rayan Protected Area. Fish-farming, taking place in and around the lakes, is a potential source of water-pollution. In addition there is a possibility that water flow to the lakes will be severely reduced in the future as part of the drainage-water recycling policy the government is applying to conserve water. This would lead to a great reduction in the size of the second lake or its complete disappearance. The salinity of the second lake is likewise increasing and this is likely to diminish its importance for waterbirds.
Illegal hunting and especially falcon-catching are still evident, despite the efforts of the EEAA to control the problem. The growing number of fisherman and fish-farms is causing increased disturbance to wintering waterbirds. The recently established tarmac road, encircling the two lakes of Wadi El Rayan, has made the area more accessible, drastically increasing the opportunities for illegal hunting and habitat destruction.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Wadi El Rayan Protected Area (Egypt). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/wadi-el-rayan-protected-area-iba-egypt on 23/12/2024.
