Its Name

Lake Bardawil or Bardawil Salt Flat (Serbonis)

The Meaning of Salt Flat

A salt flat, or Salt Lake, is a flat area of ​​land, usually located between a desert and an ocean, or which was once a lake or Salt Lake. Its surface is characterized by the presence of salt and gypsum deposits, calcium carbonate deposits, and sediments brought by wind and tides. It may contain water depending on its stage of formation.

The Lake's Relationship to the Zaranik Protected Area

It is one of the largest lakes in Egypt, with an area of ​​approximately 165,000 feddans, a total length of about 130 kilometers, and a width of about 40 kilometers. The lake passes through the Al-Muhammadiyah area, then Port Said to the east, until it reaches the Al-Arish area in the west, ending in the Al-Zaranik area. The lake connects to the sea through a small opening of approximately 100 meters. In winter, the lake becomes a single body of water, while in summer it temporarily recedes from its eastern bank. The fish stocks in the lake are among the most important sources of fish in the Arab Republic of Egypt in general, and in the Sinai Peninsula in particular.

Its area

Tobacco covers an area of ​​165,000 acres. It is located in the North Sinai Governorate, where the length of Lake Bardawil as a whole is about 130 kilometers, extending from Al-Muhammadiyah near Rumana and east of Port Said by about 35 kilometers in the west until before Al-Arish by about 50 kilometers west, including Bardawil (76 kilometers long and 40 kilometers wide) then Al-Zaranik (60 kilometers long and 3 kilometers wide). Lake Bardawil is connected to the sea by an opening or strait approximately 100 meters wide. In winter, the entire lake forms a single body of water, then recedes from its eastern section in summer, temporarily revealing the Bardawil's canals.

A Brief History of Lake Bardawil

The Lake Bardawil was known in ancient times as “Lake Serbon” or “Serbonis.”

This is the area where, according to ancient Arabic legend, Typhon, the god of evil, hid. In the Middle Ages, it was called “Bardawil Salt Flats” after King Baldwin I, ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, nicknamed Bardawil. He led a campaign against Egypt in 511 AH (1118 AD), attacking and burning Pelusium (Al-Farama). On his return journey, he died in these salt flats, and his entrails were removed and thrown into the area. Afterward, it was named Bardawil Salt Flats, as Dr. Ahmed Saleh explains, and from this came the name “Lake Bardawil.”

In 1850 AD -

It was Lake Bardawil, or Ashtoum al-Bardawil as it is referred to in the documents, was under the jurisdiction of the Matariya Fisheries Authority. The Egyptian government attempted to regulate the shipping and export of fish to Jaffa by deploying a guard unit to Lake Bardawil. Fishermen were required to possess licenses for their boats and to specify the number of crew members. Later, the Ashtoum al-Zaraniq area was leased through auction.

In 1881,

It was leased for one hundred pounds to Mahmoud Obeid, a resident of El Arish from the Fawakhriya family. Later, the Zaraniq was annexed to the Bardawil, and both Bardawil and Zaraniq were auctioned annually. The auctioneer for this purpose was Ahmed Bey Zikri (also from El Arish).

Until 1903,

The fishing in Egypt was governed by a system of fisheries leases, whereby the highest bidder would receive the lease. This system was in place on Lake Bardawil until a government decree introduced a tax system, allowing fishing with permits and licenses obtained by fishermen upon payment of fees. This system was later extended to all lakes except Bardawil, as Professor Yahya Al-Ghul states in his book, "Al-Arish: Past and Present."

The millionaire Ahmed Bey Abu Zikri was the first fisherman from the town of Al-Arish

He was the general supervisor of fish production and other related activities. He was the sole lessee of the lake and its surrounding areas. He had ambitions to establish a herring factory using mullet. He also salted and exported fish roe, sending fresh roe to President Gamal Abdel Nasser, according to Amr Rifaat Hamid, a native of Port Said and owner of the largest caviar restaurant there. Hamid says that Abu Zikri was the oldest Egyptian to work in the fish roe-salting profession, and that his father, Rifaat Hamid, worked with Abu Zikri in salting fish roe and other fish. Coming from Lake Bardawil, he would salt the roe and send samples as gifts to the late President Gamal Abdel Nasser and Field Marshal Abdel Hakim Amer, as it had high nutritional value and was considered a vital stimulant.

In 1962,

His father started his own shop specializing in salting roe. He adds, "We preserve a unique method that Abu Zikri invented for salting roe. It is exported to Lebanon, England, and the United States, but the best Egyptian caviar is extracted from the bellies of mullet fish in Lake Bardawil."

The Emirati Investment - Late October 2024 -

Fishermen were prevented from accessing Lake Bardawil, which was subsequently closed to them. An Emirati delegation arrived to explore the lake under the protection of the Sinai Tribes Union forces. Sources indicated that the lake would be granted to Ibrahim Al-Arjani as a usufruct right with an Emirati partnership. It's worth noting that the lake is a primary source of income for 70% of North Sinai's population, and for 2,700 fishermen, in addition to approximately 2,000 traders, drivers, and porters. This means that 4,000 families depend on the lake as their main source of income.

The General Description of Lake Bardawil

The lake Bardawil was declared by the Egyptian government

as one of the important sites under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, due to its unique location and rich natural environment, which supports a vast number of migratory waterbirds. It is also considered one of the most important areas for endangered birds worldwide.

It is also considered a Specially Protected Area under the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea.

Lake Bardawil is one of the most important features of the reserve

The popular traditions, tales, and Bedouin poetry about the Sirat Bani Hilal (Epic of the Bani Hilal) confirm that Abu Zayd al-Hilali Salama came to Sinai in the Bardawil region to join the invading armies. His horses stumbled in the Bardawil salt marsh. We have found many poems and stories from Sinai's folklore that mention this event, the arrival of Abu Zayd al-Hilali Salama's armies. There are also versions of Abu Zayd al-Hilali's poems that have been passed down orally in Sinai, and new stories in the history of the Sirat Bani Hilal told in Bedouin poetry by the Nabataean poets. These have been compiled by Professor Mus'ad Badr in his book: "The Sirat Bani Hilal: A Sinai Narrative," published by the General Authority for Cultural Palaces, North Sinai Branch, 2019, for those who wish to learn more.

The Lake Bardawil is a prominent feature of the northern Sinai coast, occupying a significant portion of its length.

Its waters are highly saline

A low sandbar, ranging in width from one kilometer to one hundred meters, separates it from the sea. Often, the sea encroaches upon it, submerging it completely.

The Lake Bardawil is relatively shallow, with a depth ranging from half a meter to three meters. Its sandy bottom is covered with patches of trench grass, sedge, or dodder.

The lake also contains a number of islands

The lake is of particular importance, as its fish production reaches 2,500 tons annually. Most of this fish consists of highly valuable species, such as coral reef fish and mullet.

The lake is also home to large populations of little terns and great-headed plovers, whose numbers are substantial compared to those found elsewhere in the world.

It is the second largest lake in Egypt after Lake Manzala and before Lake Burullus

The lake is one of the few that has maintained its boundaries and has not undergone any geographical changes since the beginning of the 20th century.

It preserves its natural environment and is among the cleanest lakes in the world, as it has not been affected by any type of agricultural or industrial pollution.

The fish of Lake Bardawil enjoy high quality and a strong reputation. The high local demand for its fish, at prices comparable to international prices, encourages traders to market them within the lake.

Despite some changes in the types of fish in Lake Bardawil, there is a relative stability in the population of white fish such as sea bream, sea bass, mullet, grouper, and sole. There is an increase in the population of mullet and tilapia, while there is a decline in the populations of sea bream and sole, along with the introduction of some new species, especially crustaceans such as shrimp and crab.

More than 5,000 fishermen, representing 5,000 families from all districts of the governorate, work in the lake, with Bir al-Abd and Arish being the most prominent centers.

The fishing season revitalizes the local economy in these areas.

It remains a common custom among the lake's fishermen to link their sons' marriages to the fishing season. Generally, income from fishing in the lake reached 108 million Egyptian pounds last year, with a production of 4,733 tons. We hope that production will exceed this amount this year.

The lake's fish are in demand in many European and Mediterranean countries, such as Greece, Cyprus, and Italy, due to their purity and lack of pollution.

A thin sandbar separates the lake from the Mediterranean Sea. The Zaraniq and Abu Zikri inlets are located at its eastern end and are the only natural connection between the sea and Lake Bardawil. The intertidal zone is characterized by a thick layer of mud that runs along the lake's shoreline.

The Fish Resources in Lake Bardawil

The lake Bardawil is one of the most important sources of fish in Sinai and Egypt in general. It produces large quantities of fish, with production ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 tons annually.

From 1952 to 2005,

The production fluctuated in three periods:

The first period, from 1952 to 1967,

saw an average production of 1,460 tons.

The second period, during the Israeli occupation

It's saw an average production of 1,530 tons

The third period, during Egyptian sovereignty

saw an average production of 2,240 tons. However, the problem of migratory birds congregating on the shores of Lake Bardawil remains, as they consume a significant number of fish at this time of year.

In 2021,

The production reached 4,000 tons during the most recent period.

The Major Problems Facing Lake Bardawil

1- The Problem of Siltation

The lake's problem is the siltation of the Bardawil Lake inlets (1 and 2).

To address this phenomenon, it became necessary to construct protective headlands and bridges at the Bardawil Lake inlets.

This was done to protect the lake from siltation and to reduce the annual siltation rate from 1.3 million cubic meters to approximately 3 million cubic meters.

The Authority purchased a 1200 hp cutter suction dredger with a grant from the European Common Market.

It also purchased a 360 hp marine service launch, a 350 hp tugboat, and an 84 hp loader.

The fishing ports in Al-Tula'a and Aghziwan were developed by constructing docks for fishing boats, and the fishing berths in Al-Nasr and Najila were also developed.

The impact of these works in dredging the inlets is evident in the increase in fish production from 2000 tons to 5000 tons currently.

The lake is currently being reinforced with a 1600 hp dredger to contribute to In clearing the inlets and creating radial channels within the lake.

The Administrative Protection Measures for Lake Bardawil

1- In light of the changing behavior of some individuals who prioritize their personal interests over the public good and given Lake Bardawil's vital location on Egypt's northern border, the Lake Bardawil Authority has expedited the formation of teams of lake employees to protect the lake's sites from any inappropriate behavior.

2- Continuous patrol teams are deployed to monitor the lake's shores, address violations, and control the water surface. These teams also patrol the roads and bridges leading to Lake Bardawil, in coordination with the Border Guard, to preserve the fish stocks. It's worth noting that the lake serves approximately half the population of North Sinai Governorate.

3- The deepening and widening of the waterways connecting the lake to the Mediterranean Sea ensure a vital water flow.

4- The reuse of lake sediment after treatment and purification by injecting it into the soil yields significant developmental and environmental benefits and reduces the negative impact of sedimentation.

5- Dredging and developing the lake's inlets, along with modernizing the docks and fish markets, are essential components for enhancing the lake's productivity.

6- Exporting to the European Union, which generates national revenue for the country. Lake Bardawil in North Sinai is considered the cleanest lake in the world due to its lack of pollution and the high quality of its fish.

These fish are exported to European Union countries, thus contributing to the country's increased national revenue. Furthermore, the lake's unique and balanced ecosystem has fostered a diverse fish farming system.

The National Project for the Development of Egyptian Lakes

The six lakes (Mariout, Edku, Manzala, Burullus, Qarun, and Bardawil) are undergoing continuous cleaning, dredging, and development work around the clock, with three daily work shifts, to eliminate all obstacles and crises facing these lakes. The comprehensive and integrated development projects underway in the Egyptian lakes are beginning to bear fruit, as these lakes have been cleared of hundreds of encroachments and sources of pollution, in addition to raising the water level throughout the year, removing bottom sediments and weeds, and the return of migratory fish.