It is famous for its extraordinary fertility and is worth a visit for the gentle beauty of the countryside and a large number of historical associations.
It is regarded as the largest and economically most important of all the Egyptian oases (El-Fayoum; from Coptic Phiom, “the lake”). It extends about 90km/55mi south-west from Cairo.The oasis has the shape of a triangle standing on its apex, measures up to 65km/40mi from east to west and 50km/30mi from north to south, and includes a low-lying area which gradually slopes down from the south to the north and is enclosed by a low mountain chain. It is irrigated by the Bahr Jusuf (Joseph’s Canal), which leaves the Ibrahimia canal (formerly the Nile) at Deirut, breaks through to the low-lying area of the oasis in a narrow cut through the mountain chain at El-Lahun, then meanders through the low-lying area in numerous branches and finally flows into Birket Qarun (Lake Qarun) in the north-west of the oasis. The region is notable for its numerous water wheels.
