Valley of the Whales

A visit to Fayoum oasis is just a day-trip from Cairo… about 90 minutes west to get to the Valley of the Whales nature reserve and then another 45 minutes in 4 WD to reach several whale vertebrae sites. That’s what Liz is looking at! Hard to believe that whales were around here. Actually during the Eocene era – 45 million years ago. All serious vertebrae paleontologists at one time in their lives come to the Fayoum to study.

The fossilized mangroves are just as ancient and totally amaze, as you’ll notice the petrified roots of the tree trunks. Too bad tourists continue to destroy many of the fossils in the area with the lack of protection – not affordable! Current researchers keep their digs secret to help preserve them.

 Notice the highest waterfalls! They are actually the ONLY waterfalls in Egypt and are incredibly famous, as everyone photographs them. The two falls formed between two manmade lakes of differing heights. They pipe the water to the depressions from the oasis and stock them with fish. 

Lake Qaroun looks beautiful from this viewpoint, but it doesn’t sustain much life with its saltiness. The guidebooks claim the Egyptians enjoy it for beach holidays, though that’s not visible from this distance. 
Discovering the desert was a welcome change from Cairo, the mega city. It actually felt like another planet – certainly unlike desert experiences in Namibia and Saudi.