The area was declared to be a protectorate in 1989 and it’s located in the Aswan governorate in Egypt. The protected area covers approximately 30000km² and it’s a type of desert protected area and its one of the biosphere reserve. The lake found within this protected area was formed as a result of the construction of Aswan High Dam which led water to flow into Wadi Al Allaqi which then became the lakes’ part.
The protectorate valley is 1 km wide and 275 km long. In 1989 the area was declared a protectorate reserve and in 1993 the protectorate was also declared as a biosphere Reserve by the UNESCO.
Over 90 species of plants can be seen around the protectorate and this is one of the best tourist places to be visited by the botanist and this becomes a place to stay for nature lovers. Over 15 species of mammals plus over16 species of birds of which some are endemic to the protectorate. Many visitors can reach this protectorate from Aswan and this is about 180 km from the protected area.
Lake Nasser to the west and Red Sea by the east are among the most attracting features including the earliest mining which took place in the area during the 12th Dynasty of the Middle Kingdom. The British and the South African companies were here by 1900s that were carrying out mining and left these land marks. High grade quartz veins and alluvial gold show the historical mining activity.
Nomadic tribes such as the Bejas who reside in the area can be interacted by the tourist within the protectorate. It’s estimated that around 1000 members of Bisharyn and Ababda live here. It’s believed that these tribes used this land for grazing their livestock. Also quarrying of nickel and copper plus practicing agriculture on a small scale was done around the area.
