May 25, 2021
While in orbit over Egypt, an astronaut on the International Space Station (ISS) recorded a picture of this heart-shaped basin surrounding the Nile River and the Western Desert. The depression, understood as the Faiyum Oasis, spreads out throughout more than 1,200 square kilometers (450 square miles) and was formed from the ancient lakebed of Lake Moeris.
Partial damming of Lake Moeris throughout the reign of Ptolemy II enabled large locations of fertile alluvial soil to be recovered for agriculture. Today saltwater Lake Qarun (Birket Qarun), situated on the northern margin of the depression, is the residue of Moeris. The salinity of Lake Qarun is caused by high evaporation rates in the arid climate.
Farms and orchards fill the anxiety and line the western banks of the Nile. The many small gray patches are towns and towns in the intensively cultivated agricultural locations. The location has supported human life for more than 8,000 years and provides resources to many bird and fish types, in addition to the threatened slim horned gazelle.
By NASA Earth Observatory
February 18, 2022
Bahr Yussef, which links the Nile to the Faiyum Oasis, originally formed as a natural offshoot of the river. In 2300 BC, it was expanded and deepened into a canal to help manage flow to the sanctuary. The canal transports freshwater and sediment to the area prior to clearing into Lake Qarun.
It is offered by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Johnson Space. The image has actually been cropped and enhanced to improve contrast, and lens artifacts have actually been removed. Caption by Sara Schmidt, GeoControl Systems, JETS Contract at NASA-JSC.
Today saltwater Lake Qarun (Birket Qarun), situated on the northern margin of the anxiety, is the residue of Moeris. The canal carries freshwater and sediment to the location prior to emptying into Lake Qarun.
It is offered by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Johnson Space.
