Siwa Oasis

Siwa Oasis

Description:
Siwa Oasis With a population of concerning twenty three thousand, Siwa the foremost inaccessible of all Egypt's oasis till terribly recently, is additionally one in every of the foremost fascinating, lying some sixty feet below water level.. On the sting of the nice Sand ocean, its made history includes a visit from Alexander the nice to consult the Oracle of Amun in 331 B.C. Archaeologists, like Liana Souvaltsis silent that the nice leader was buried here, however no real proof has return from this. The King of Persia lead a fifty thousand, man army to the world to destroy the oracle, however the whole army was lost within the desert.

The area incorporates a nice climate, chilly in winter, hot within the summer and moderate within the spring and fall. Lake Siwa to the west of the city of may be a massive, water lake.

The area is famous for its dates and olives, and is one of the most beautiful landscapes in

Egypt. Olives oil is still made in the area by crushing the olives from the 70,000 olive trees in the area with stones. The dates are gathered by zaggala (stick bearers), who must remain celibate until the age of forty, and the area boasts some 300,000 date trees. It is located on the old date caravan route, yet until recently, it received few other visitors and retained much of its heritage. In fact, until the battles which took place around the oasis in World War II, it was hardly governed by Egypt, and remained mostly a Berber (Zenatiya) community for the prior thirteen centuries. Siwans continue to have their own culture and customs and they speak a Berber language, called Siwi, rather than Arabic. Interestingly, each October there is a three-day festival during which Siwans must settle all of their past year's disputes.

The area is also famous for its springs, of which there are approximately 1,000. The water is sweet, and is said to have medical properties.

Siwa, Though relaxing and certainly now a part of the tourist community in Egypt, it is very traditional, and visitors should keep this in mind when traveling to the area. Many women still wear traditional costumes and silver jewelry like those displayed in The Traditional Siwan House museum in the town center. In fact, the area is also well known for its crafts, particularly woven cloth, which is unique in Egypt.

 

For a cultural tour in Shali, the oasis' main town, check out the strange ruins of the Shali Fortress which dominate the town center and walk along sandy paths to find the Temple of the Oracle, once visited by Alexander the Great himself to consult the Oracle of Siwa. Finish your day by taking a dip at Cleopatra's Pool, where the legendary queen herself is believed to have once swum. Don’t forget to buy some Siwan Crafts on your way, and spare an hour or two for a visit to the charming Siwa House Museum. 

Adventurous travelers will get their fix of fun and excitement by heading for a expedition into the nice sand ocean or making an attempt out quad biking within the Western Desert of Egypt.

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