Plant Ecophysiological Study on Some Selected Wetland and Terrestrial Areas of Wadi EI-Rayan Lakes, Faiyfim Governorate, A.R. Egypt.

Abstract

Wadi El-Rayan Lakes (28° 15' and 29° IT) are located in Wadi El-Rayan Depression in the deepest pa!t of El-FaiyUm Govemorate in the Westem Dese1t of Egypt, about 130 km South West of Cairo. It consists of 2 Lakes connected by a channel. Their total smface area is about 40,000 feddans (1 Fed. = 4200 m2). The project of Wadi El Rayan began in October 1968 and impoundment began in 1973. The project consists of a canal (9.5 km long) leading from El-Wadi agricultmal Drain in El-Faiyilm Govemorate right to its dese1t boundary where it discharges into the First Lake of Wadi El-Rayan via a hmnel (9 Km long, 3m ). The Lakes receive 200 million m3 agriculrural drainage water

per year from the agriculrurallands of El-Faiyilm Govemorate in order to solve the problem of rising water level in Lake Qarfm.