Siwa Oasis

                                Siwa Oasis                                                                                                                                           

 Siwa is an Egyptian city and oasis in the Western Desert, about 300 km from the Mediterranean coast, southwest of Marsa Matruh. Administratively, it belongs to the Matrouh Governorate. Wells and springs are scattered throughout the area, used for irrigation, drinking, bottling natural water, and treatment. It has four large lakes, and several archaeological sites have been discovered, such as the Temple of Amun, which witnesses the vernal equinox twice a year, and the tombs of the Mountain of the Dead. A nature reserve covering an area of 7,800 km2 has been declared, containing a variety of animal and plant life. The oasis is inhabited by approximately 37,000 people, most of whom work in agriculture or tourism. The oasis has a continental desert climate, with extremely hot summers and warm winters that are very cold at night                                                                                                                                                                     
         
    Siwa is famous for its therapeutic tourism, as its sands contain natural elements suitable for alternative medicine. Four-wheel drive safaris are popular with visitors to the oasis. Some statistics indicate that Siwa receives approximately 30,000 tourists annually, both Egyptians and foreigners. Several foreign and Arab websites have ranked it among the 9 most isolated places on the planet. Siwa's architecture has a unique character, with traditional houses built from kershef stone, which consists of salt and fine sand mixed with clay. Doors and windows are made from olive and palm wood. Embroidery and handmade pottery are among the oasis' most distinguished traditional crafts, most notably tajines, traditional pyramid-shaped desert cooking pots beautifully decorated with a traditional pyramid shape. The people of Siwa have a special festival, the Harvest Festival, which they celebrate every October when the moon is full