El-Ain El-Sukhna

El-Ain El-Sukhna

Cairo's nearest beach ...just an hour away

EL-Ain EL-Sukhna: the Arabic for “ hot spring” was named after the nearby sulphur springs .It is also an ideal site for fishing and water sports.

Ain El Sukhna is about 140 km east of Cairo, just an houraway by car. It offers Cairenes and welcome, handy respite from the city's fast paced life .

The area is 40 km south of the port of Suez and is administratively part of the Suez Governorate. Its territory extends along the Red Sea shoreline for about 60 km from the southern borders of Ras El Adebbya in the north to Ras El Zaafarana in the south.

Close enough to Cairo for a day-trip; this popular weekend resort has fine beaches and coves, coral reefs, fishing and water sports.

This is not just a destination for people wanting a suntan and a week at the beach. It is also a place where you can indulge in history. There is ample evidence that the area had its place in history. It includes a famous group of the world's oldest monasteries west of Zafarana on the road to Kuraymat.

The most celebrated ones are those of St. Anthony (c. 251 -356), the founding father of monasticism, and St. Paul, which were built more than 16 centuries ago.

Rituals followed inside the monasteries today have hardly changed in hundreds of years.

A group of historians also believe the northern part of the Mount of Galala El Bahareya was the point from which Moses and the Israelites crossed in their exodus from Egypt's mainland into the Sinai Peninsula. They cite in their claims the fact that the bottom of the Gulf of Suez at this point is elevated.

As the main route to the Indies for Ancient Egyptians and Phoenicians, the Red Sea and its shores and ports also have a rich maritime history.

The area is known for its mild climate all year round. Temperatures range between a high of 32 degrees celsius and a low of 9 degrees in January and show a variation of between 36 degrees and 30 degrees in July .

The average rate of humidity is 50 percent. It ranges between a maximum of 72 percent and a minimum 48 percent in December and shows a variation between 58 percent in May .

Rainfall occurs largely in winter months.
The average number of days having rainfall is 11 days a year, with the rain season spanning the November- May period.
The average amount of rainfall stands at about 24 mm . Winds mainly blow from the north and the northwest gusting at an average.

Flora and Fauna paragon of wildlife.
In spite of the low amounts and frequencies of rainfall, the usual desert growth of perennials and grasses is found.

The Eastern Desert receives spares rainfall, which supports a varied vegetation that includes tamariskaccacia and markh ( a leafless, thorn less tree with bare branches and slendertwigs ) as well as great variety of thorny shrub, small succulent , and romantic herbs .

Date and doum palms,both cultivated and sub spontaneous are found in the Oasis.Desert animals include dorcas gazelle , the miniature desert fox , the mountain goat ibex , the Egyptian hare and two kinds of jerboa( a mouse- like rodent with long hind legs for jumping)the Egyptian jackal and still exists.

There are two carnivorous mammals: a spices of wildcats and the striped Egyptian mongoose.

Several varieties of lizards are found, including the large monitor. Because Egypt is rich in its bird life and many birds pass through in large numbers
On their spring and autumn migrations, the area has its good share of more than 200 migrating types as well a more than 150 resident birds.

Lammergeir and golden eagles are residents of the Eastern desert and Sinai. Resident desert birds are a distinct category, numbering about 24 kinds.

That exquisite corridor of tinted mountain and radiant water ...here and nowhere else is the vestibule between the Levant and the Topics ..." E.M.Forster describing the Gulf of Suez, 1923.

The area's topography bestows on it a special lure and charm. It lies in one of the three tires of the eastern desert -the Red Sea Hills and Red Sea Coastal plane.This tier runs from near Suez to the Sudanese border.

The Hills are not a continuous range but consist of sets of interlocking systems more or less alignment. They are geographical complex, with igneous and metamorphic rocks .
As such, it is regarded by Encyclopaedia Britannica as " a sub-region in itself . Ain El Sukhna is famed for two mountins that have religious significance: Attaqa, which rises more than 800 above sea leveland hems in the valleys (wadis ) of Hogouland Chuwaiba.

Galala El Bahareya , the southern periphery of the area , which rises to more than 1,200 m and embarces the valleys of Kuthaib ( 75sq,km), Abul-dorg (68.5sq,km)and smaller ones such as ElMalha and Gar El Malha.

These mountains and valleys constitute a main component in the area's attractiveness for tourists and local holiday-makers.

There are marks and signs showing that this area had its niche in the annals of history.The 4th century monasteries of St. Anthony the Great and St. Paul in the Eastern Desert, not far from Zafarana, are celebrated as the world's oldest.
A group of historians believe it was around this area on the Red Sea that Moses and Israelites crossed into the Sinai in their exodus from Egypt.
As the main route to the Indies for ancient Egyptians and Phoenicians, the Red Sea and its shores and ports have a rich maritime history.

The area could be reached by land through one of the following highways & roads:
- The Cairo - Suez Highway 110 km
- The Qattameya - Ein El Sukhna Highway 95 km
- The Kuramat - Zafaran Road 120 km
- The Hurgada - Zafarana Road 320 km
- The Suez - Ain El Sukhna Road 40 km

Egypt's Military Museums

Egypt's Military Museums

The Military Museum
The Military Museum in Cairo is famous for its rich collection and historical building which was originally a palace during the reign of Mohamed Ali, the founder of the royal family that ruled Egypt from 1805 till 1952. It was established in 1937 in the old building of the Ministry of Defense based on the idea of Abdel Raham Zaki, one of the most famous military historians in Egypt. It was recently modernized in cooperation with North Korea and President Mubarak reopened it on 29 November, 1993. It records the history of the Egyptian army since the Pharaonic times till now. It is divided into three wings and three storeys, each having several halls. It exhibits the development in weaponry and military equipment and uniforms, besides 220 paintings of famous battles, as well as the most important military decorations, orders and medals.

Al-Magd Hall:
Al Magd Hall exhibits the flags used since the Ottoman era up till now including the flags of the Republic, the main branches of the Armed Forces and the historical flags of the military zones, leaderships and the units which participated in October War.

Clothes Hall:
It exhibits the development of the soldiers' uniform since the start of the Islamic ear up till now.

Arms Hall
Knives, swords and guns are on display in this hall which includes Artillery Hall which shows the guns' development throughout all eras.

Historical Display Halls

It includes a number of Pharaonic era halls and displays the events of the ancient Egyptian state as regards arms' types, soldiers wrestling trainings, the victory of King Narmar and dioramas for King Tuhutmos III, Ramses II who signed the first ever treaty in the world in 1270 BC.

Islamic Era
It exhibits the events seen in Egypt since Amr Ibn el-As conquered it till the battle of Hitten led by Saladin against the Crusaders as well as dioramas showing the capture of King Louis IX and another diorama for Ain Galot battle and the Islamic battle of Badr.

Mohamed Ali Pasha Hall
It exhibits the family tree of Mohamed Ali Pasha and paintings for the Citadel's Massacre, Ship Building House as well as diorama for the Suez Canal from opening to nationalization.

War Hall
It includes many intersected halls showing every war which Egypt engaged in since 1948 up till 1973 as well as dioramas for Ras el-Esh Battle, Port Said War and Elat's destroyer.

October Victory Hall
It exhibits the achievements of 1973 October War in addition to the weaponry which participated in the war. It includes air forces hall, air defense hall, infantry hall, naval forces hall, paratroops hall and coastal guards' hall.

Martyrs Hall
It exhibits the names of the martyrs of October War and other wars who sacrificed their lives to realize a great historical victory.

Military Museum in Northern Sinai
It was established in 1993 in an appreciation for the efforts exerted by Sinai citizens to defend their territories against the foreign invasion from the Pharaonic era till the modern era. It comprises one wing which includes four sections: The first section contains artistic paintings from Sinai citizens which record the popular heroic acts. The second section is a documentary one which records all information about the history and the battles of the popular resistance. The third section highlights Sinai history and the fourth section highlights the achievements and Sinai economic and tourist spots.

Al-Alamein War Museum

Al-Alamein War Museum is located 105 kilometers west of Alexandria. It is placed within the military areas of El Alumni. It was opened in 1956, during the tenure of late President Gamal Abdel Nasser.

Built as a memorial of the Battle of Al Alamein, between the British and the Germans in 1942, and the battles that took place in South Africa in World War II, Al-Alamein Museum was renewed and reopened in 1992 under President Hosni Mubarak. The museum is one of the best places to visit in order to understand the story of World War II in Egypt.

The museum contains records of all the events. Even before entering the Museum area, there stand huge army tanks and other weapons in the courtyard. Visitors can view the heavy equipment, go inside a tank or an army vehicle, or even jump up and sit on the top of a tank.

The museum consists of five halls, each of which is dedicated to one of the four countries involved in the war, Great Britain, Italy, Germany, and Egypt. There is also a mixed hall that contains a number of war items.

The Egyptian hall:
It shows how Egypt helped the Allies during the war. There are statues of Egyptian soldiers who helped British troops.

The British hall:
Focus is on how the British were able to defeat the Italians and the Germans in North Africa.

The Italian hall:
Like the other halls, it contains statues of Italian soldiers wearing their uniform.

The German hall:
It highlights the part played by the German army in the battle of Alamein and in the other battles fought in North Africa in World War ll.

The most interesting of all the museum's halls is the mixed hall which showcases items belonging to the warring parties. The small models at the center demonstrate the important battles between the British and Italians in the beginning, and the British and the Germans later. The hall has one part that tells the history of each country and why they were involved in the war. Photographs are hung showing real battles walls; the history of the three countries and the reasons they had for going to war is also presented together with information about them.

The October 1973 War Panorama

The October 1973 War Panorama is a museum, which relates the battles of Egypt's greatest victory of modern times. The idea of the panorama was first introduced during President Hosni Mubarak's visit to North Korea in 1983.

The project was opened by the President on October 5, 1989. The building and grounds stand on some 31 thousand square meters; a 6-square meter parking area is attached.

Weaponry used by the Egyptian troops and Israeli weapons seized in the war is showcased in the open display area. The cylinder-shaped main building is 44m x 27m intersected by a 10.5m-iron and copper tower. It consists of four halls:

The circular hall:
which highlights the achievements of the Egyptian Armed Forces in the period from 1967 to 1973.

Hall 2:
in which the crossing of the Suez Canal is graphically shown.

Hall 3:
which showcases the achievements of the various branches of the Army during the October War.

Hall 3 is a library with a reading hall attached.

Panorama shows are presented in Arabic, English, German, Italian, French and Japanese.