Al-Fayoum is, strictly speaking, not a true oasis, since it depends on its water source from the River Nile, which is brought from as far away as Asyut by the ancient Bahr Yusuf canal, running through the city of Al-Fayoum to this day. It is, nonetheless, a great expanse of greenery amidst the harshness of surrounding desert. Lake Qaroun is Egypt's largest salt-water lake, with an area of some two hundred and fifteen square kilometers. The water of the lake is forty-five metres below sea level and the whole Depression covers nearly seven hundred square miles.

          Once outside the city, though, the surrounding countryside is quite delightful, and well worth the drive from Cairo. Known for its all-year-round warm climate, Fayoum contains semi-nomadic Bedouin settlements and small fishing villages.
          The increasing number of visitors, either for the day or for weekends or even longer, can enjoy sailing, windsurfing, swimming and fishing on the edge of the desert. Desert safaris, by camel or by 4 x 4 vehicles can also be arranged. A former hunting lodge of King Farouq, which welcomed world statesmen such as Churchill and Roosevelt during the Second World War, is just one of the many hotels in the area. There are hot springs at Ain Al-Siliyin and waterfalls at Wadi Al-Rayan.
          The famous waterwheels, which are as much a part of the visitor experience as they are a part of the lifeblood of the oasis, were originally introduced by the Ptolemies in the third century BC. Repaired and replaced over the centuries, they remain today almost the same as they were all those hundreds of years ago, moving slowly as they bring life where no life existed.