Wadi Al Assiut is a protected area in Egypt's Asiout Governorate. It was created in 1989 and covers an area of 35 square km. It covers a multi-protected area with various different sections and it is located about 400 km from Cairo.
Sections Of The Protectorate
Wadi el-Assiut Protectorate is divided into two major regions one of which is the section for protecting and breeding wild animals and the other of which is for studying and cultivating plant genes. The former contains animals like bighorn, Egyptian deer, mountain goats, zebra, ostrich, and some reptiles, while the latter has various threatened species of plants including palm trees, bushes, and more such aromatic and economic crops that are planted and protected. New and wild genes are also collected here for reproduction.
More About The Protectorate
The Assuiti Valley starts as a tributary. Wadi el-Assiut Protectorate is unique and different from most others in Egypt as it is used for the breeding of wild animals and wild plants which are endangered species.
The protectorate was a result of a joint project between the University of Arizona in the USA and Assiut University in Egypt.
Founding Of The Wadi
Wadi el-Assiut Protectorate is a valley that was once a large dry river area and it emerged from the Red Sea hills after the High Dam and Lake Nasser was constructed. After getting filled with water Lake Nasser's water flowed into the Wadi Al which covered a large part of the valley.
The Uniqueness Of The Protectorate
Wadi el-Assiut Protectorate is unique and different from all the other reserves in Egypt since it is a breeding ground for many varieties of plants and animals. There are also some endangered species of flora and fauna that could only be seen in the Egyptian deserts. The reserve also contains important genes and studies of plant genetics being used for the modernization of agriculture. These are used in the gene bank of some agricultural crops and for study and research. There are also some medicinal herbs, wild plants, and scattered trees of doum palm and acacia alongside clusters of torrential streams on the side of the Wadi el-Assiut Protectorate. In the reserve area, there are some wildlife animals like deer, different kinds of reptiles, and a large number of non-vertebral animals that live under bushes or in rock cracks. Though small in size, Wadi el-Assiut Protectorate in Egypt has an important role in maintaining environmental equilibrium and soil fertility and can be an interesting place to visit.
