Wadi Natrun Travel Guide

A dozen salt lakes form a chain here

Salt and sodium bicarbonate were collected from the deposits in ancient times. Wadi Natrun is famous for its hermitages and monasteries, which existed here from the 4th century. The approximately 50km/30mi-long and up to 6km/4mi-wide basin at the north-east edge of the Western Desertfalls to 24m/79ft below sea level. In pharaonic times, raw materials for mummification were mined here; later, these were also used to bleach fabrics and to make soap. The Romans mined silicate for glass productionin Wadi Natrun. Since the 1950s, Wadi Natrun has been developed for agriculture. Artificial irrigation makes it possible to grow citrus fruits, olives, and grain. On the eastern edge of the basin, the new Sadat City (Medinat as-Sadat) has been created where nothing existed before.Monastic traditionWadi Natrun became famous for the hermitages and monasteries that were built from the 4th century. Like other desert monasteries (Monastery of St Antony, Monastery of St Paul, Monastery of St Catherine) they also had a lasting impact on the development of Christianity. They were repeatedly plundered and destroyed – especially during the 9th century – so that only four of the former 50 Coptic monasteries are still inhabited by monks today. Out of these four monasteries, none have maintained their original appearance; in fact, few traces remain from the time they were founded. All are surrounded by fortifying walls and have a guard tower (Qasr) that protected the monks if they were attacked. In order to maintain their isolation, until a few years ago only Deir Amba Bishoi could be visited up; today, all of the monasteries can be toured if desired.

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