Discover Siwa Salt Lake: Egypt’s Hidden Gem in the Desert

Siwa Oasis is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Egypt, which receives a large number of tourists every day due to the diversity of tourism patterns. Siwa combines archaeological tourism as well as medical tourism, in addition to safari tourism, which has made it one of the most important tourist destinations in Egypt throughout the year. One of the most prominent landmarks of medical tourism in Siwa is Siwa Salt Lake.

In this article, we discuss in detail Siwa Salt Lake, which has become one of the most important centers of medical tourism, not only in Siwa but in all of Egypt. Tourists and Egyptians alike are keen to visit it and go there for treatment and more relaxation.

Introduction to Egypt’s Siwa Salt Lake

Siwa Salt Lake

Siwa is characterized by many tourist attractions, the most important of which is Siwa Salt Lake. This lake is considered one of the amazing natural phenomena there, as it is located in a low area surrounded by sand on all sides. The salt basins in Siwa appear in a blue-green color surrounded by frozen edges of crystallized salt that shine in the middle of the day due to the sun.

These lakes are characterized by a very high level of salinity that may reach 95%, which makes the body float on the surface without the need to swim. The density of salt in the lake water pushes the human body up, making it float on the surface without any risk of drowning.

How to Reach Siwa Salt Lake: Travel Tips and Directions

The salt lakes in Siwa are salt mines but are always open to tourists for daily visits. This allows you to relax and swim in Siwa Salt Lake and take souvenir photos.

1. First, make your way from Cairo or Alexandria to Siwa, which is located 741 kilometers southwest of Cairo.
2. The salt lakes are located 30 kilometers east of the oasis and are reached by roads between palm farms. This means that you can then move from the oasis east until you reach the salt lakes.
3. After reaching the salt lakes, you can start swimming in these lakes. These lakes have a relatively high salt content, which makes you float automatically, making drowning impossible. 
4. Be careful not to get the Siwa Salt Lake water directly into your eyes as it is very salty and can cause eye irritation. This lake does not contain any fish or marine life due to its high salinity.
5. After swimming in one of the salt lakes, you should head to the natural hot springs spread throughout Siwa. People usually go to these springs to wash off the salt. 
6. Other healing practices also include sand baths in Siwa. Your safari guide will take you in a car through the vast sand dunes. You can practice sand skiing or dune riding and many other activities.
7. You can also visit Cleopatra’s Spring. It is a cold swimming pool with fresh water. Cleopatra’s Spring is surrounded by green palm trees, which makes the view amazing.

Best Time to Visit the Salt Lake in Siwa

Siwa Salt Lake is available 24 hours a day for tourism and Egyptians, but spring is considered the best time to visit the lakes. The temperature is moderate and the colors of the lake become wonderful or very suitable for photography. You can also visit the lake in the fall to enjoy a nice breeze without being exposed to high temperatures as in the summer.

Many secondary activities are held in Siwa, so you can visit Siwa Salt Lake during those times. In general, the time of visit depends on each person according to the circumstances. Many people do not prefer to visit the oasis in the summer when the weather is very hot and also in the winter due to the possibility of rain and very cold weather.

Exploring the Natural Beauty of Siwa Salt Lake

Exploring the Natural Beauty of Siwa Salt Lake

Siwa Salt Lake is a very large distance from the capital Cairo, exceeding 740 kilometers, which ensures that it is relatively unpolluted. Siwa is characterized by low rainfall rates but is also known for high evaporation rates, which makes the lakes very salty. Because of these lakes, Siwa has become one of the most prominent global destinations for medical tourism.

There are four main salt lakes in Siwa, each of which has a charming view. These lakes are characterized by the presence of salt crystal clusters surrounding them, which expel negative energy. The experience of visiting the salt lakes gives you relaxation and wonderful therapeutic benefits in addition to its charming view of blue water and sand dunes.

The Health Benefits of Salt Lake Water

It is believed that the water of the Siwa salt lakes has strong therapeutic properties, as many visitors to the lakes stated that their condition from various diseases improved after visiting the Siwa salt lakes, including its ability to:

• Help a person relax and relieve stress and many pains.
• Reduce high blood pressure and help sleep naturally.
• Treat many psychological diseases through the picturesque natural view.
• Give the body high positive energy and treat depression.

There is a disagreement among Scientists about these therapeutic benefits because they have not been reliably proven, but many visitors stated that they benefited therapeutically from this lake.

The Siwa salt lake is considered one of the landmarks of medical tourism in Egypt. These lakes combine wonderful therapeutic benefits and natural beauty due to the charming blue color of the water in addition to the color of the crystallized salt around the lake. Tourists can enjoy the scenic beauty of these lakes and feel comfortable and relaxed because of the health benefits of these salty waters, in which one can never drown.

Sources:

https://www.magnificentworld.com/siwa-oasis-egypt/ 

https://csa-living.org/oasis-blog/the-magical-salt-lakes-of-siwa