Ain Sukhna

Ain Sukhna
Country	Egypt
Governorate	Suez Governorate
Time zone	EST (UTC+2)

Ain Sukhna, (Arabic: العين السخنة‎ el-ʿĒn el-Soḵna  Egyptian Arabic pronunciation: [elˈʕeːn esˈsoxnæ], "the Hot Spring") is a town in Suez Governorate, Egypt, lying on the western shore of the Red Sea's Gulf of Suez. It is situated 55 km south of Suez and approximately 120 km east of Cairo.

Etymology

The town's name is from the Arabic word for "hot Spring"/"hot spring", referring to the sulfur spring in the nearby Gabal Ataka, the highest peak in the Eastern Desert.

History

Recent archaeological excavations have shown that there was an ancient pharaonic port and settlement in this area. The site was first brought to attention in 1999 by Professor Mahmud Abd el-Raziq.^[1] French and Egyptian archaeologists have been investigating this area since that time.

The site had been occupied during the Old Kingdom and through to the New Kingdom.

The port was used mainly to cross over to the southern part of the Sinai Peninsula on the other side of the gulf.

There are some important rock inscriptions in the area. In particular, there's an inscription by Mentuhotep IV, the last king of the 11th Dynasty (ca 2000 BC).

Large galleries carved into the sandstone mountain were found. They served as living and storage places. In one of them, a wall inscription from the time of Djedkare Isesi has been found. He was the king of the 5th Dynasty (ca 2400 BC). The inscription gives details on a large expedition in the area, looking for various minerals. It also mentions 'Byblos-boats' -- which Egyptians used for long seafaring expeditions. This is a very early mention of such boats.

As early as the Old Kingdom, seafaring expeditions on the Red Sea were organized from this port. Similar material was also found at the Wadi Maghareh, where many Old Kingdom inscriptions are found.^[2]

Another similar ancient site is at Wadi al-Jarf, a little south of Ain Sukhna.

Climate

Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as hot desert (BWh), as the rest of Egypt.

Economy

Ain Sohkna's economy is chiefly dependent on tourism, with hydrocarbon extraction and refining and industry also playing a role.

Ain Sukhna beach, Suez - Mollusca collection

Ain Sukhna beach, Suez - Mollusca collection

Industry and natural resources

Ain Sokhna plays host to economically significant reserves of petroleum and natural gas, which are extracted in the area. The region additionally has sugar refineries and other heavy industry.

Tourism

Ain Sokhna's location fairly near to Cairo has made it a major destination for Cairene holidaymakers desiring to get out of the capital's notorious summer heat. With a motorway constructed in the late 2000s, Ain Sokhna is little more than an hour outside of Cairo and is thus chiefly a weekend destination, with longer holidays frequently taken on the Alexandria or the western part of the Northern Coast instead. It is one of the few resorts on Egypt's Red Sea Riviera chiefly occupied by Egyptians; most other resorts are occupied by European tourists.

References

Main Egyptian cities 6th of October City Akhmim El Alamein Abydos Alexandria Arish Aswan Asyut Banha Bani Suwayf Bilbeis Cairo Dahab Dakhla Damanhur Damietta Dandarah Desouk Esna Faiyum Hurghada Hamrah Dawm Hala'ib Imbabah Ismaïlia Giza Kafr el-Dawwar Kom Ombo Kharga Luxor El-Mahalla El-Kubra Mallawi Mansoura Marsa Matruh el-Menya Nag Hammadi Nuweiba Noubarya Port Said Qena Rosetta Sadat City Safaga Saint Katherine Siwa Sharm el-Sheikh Shibin El Kom Shibin el-Qanater Shubra el-Kheima Sohag Ain Sukhna Suez Taba Tanta Zaqaziq

Coordinates: 29°36′00″N 32°19′00″E / 29.6°N 32.3167°E / 29.6; 32.3167