Yousef tarek salem elmessiry

North Sinai
North Sinai Governorate enjoys a distinguished strategic location,
whether on the regional or national level, as it is the eastern fortress of
Egypt, and it represents an area linking East and West.

North Sinai governorate is located in the northeast of the Arab Republic

of Egypt between longitude 32, 34 east, and 29, 31 north latitude,
bordering to the north by the Mediterranean Sea with a length of 220
km. As for the south, a line extending from the south of the Matal Pass
to Ras al-Negev and is bounded to the east by the political border of
Egypt with Palestine The occupied West represents a line extending
from the corridor of Mitla in the south to Baloza in the north.

Sinai has great strategic importance (especially North Sinai), as it

represents the eastern fortress of Egypt, which is the passage from
which most of the invasions that targeted Egypt, whether in ancient or
modern history, crossed.

In the year 1948 AD, the outskirts of the city of Al-Arish witnessed the
shattering of the dream of Israel to occupy the Sinai, where a brave
Egyptian soldier confronted the enemy tanks attacking the city of Al-
Arish, near the village of Lahfin, south of Al-Arish.

In the modern era, the spark of the July 23 revolution was the first to
start from Al-Arish, since the two battalions that surrounded the King's
Palace in Abdin and the important areas in Cairo were from the forces
of Major General Muhammad Najib, the commander of the Arish
region and the first president of Egypt.

In 1956 CE, Sinai witnessed the failure of the tripartite aggression

adventure against Egypt, as England, France, and Israel agreed to attack
Egypt, where England and France occupy the Suez Canal Zone and Israel
occupies Sinai under this agreement.

As for the year 1967 AD, the war between Israel and the Arabs aided
and supported America, and Israel's occupation of Sinai, the West Bank,
and the Golan Heights.

On the other hand, Sinai was the battles of the Sixth of October (10
Ramadan) in 1973 AD, when the Egyptian armed forces crossed the
Suez Canal and the Bar-Lev Line and raised the flags of victory.

The tourist potential in the governorate varies with the diversity of its
historical, environmental, cultural, and touristic heritage, and includes
roads, castles, and historical cities, as well as the attractions of its
attractions to include natural and historical elements such as Cairo
transit tours, natural oases, bird watching - yacht tourism, and among
the most important types of tourism available in the governorate:
( Beach tourism - medical tourism - historical tourism - religious tourism
- ecotourism - Egypt desert safari trips- yacht tourism and water
sports).

Archaeological Sites:
Pelusium Archeological Area (Tel el-Farma):

It is considered the most important archeological site and is located

about 15 km to the north of the Balouza village on the road to the East
Qantara in Northern Sinai. It includes a number of important
archeological hills in addition to the main area in the ancient city. The
modern Excavations revealed a number of baths, a large amphitheater
dating back to the Roman era, and a Roman castle persisted until the
Islamic era. A number of hills, namely; Tel el-Makhzan, Tel el-Kanaes
and Tel al-Shohada, lies next to the Pelusium.

The Governorate also hosts a number of archaeological hills such as; Tel
al-Mahmdiat, directly located on the Mediterranean in Rommana
village, and featuring some of the sunken architectural remnants on the
coast, and Tel al-Karama, dating back to the Roman and Islamic eras.
Additionally, it includes Tel Qasrawit which features the remnants of
the city dating back to the Coptic era, and Tel el-Darawish which is one
of the archaeological sites dating back to the modern dynasty of the
Pharaonic era. Among other hills are; Tel Filossiat, Tel Suedat, Tel
Hephen, Tel Kharoub, Tel Zeizaa, Tel Kawthar, Tel set, and Tel Aselij.

The Mediterranean Coastal strip of North Sinai stretching between the

Suez Canal and Gaza as the most important land bridge linking Egypt
and Canaan from predynastic times onward.

The well-traveled high ways of the North Sinai facilitated the military
expeditions of the Egyptian pharaohs on their way to Canaan and Asia
as well as the invading arms of Persia, Greece and Rome.

A new archaeological cave has been discovered on Saturday in North

Sinai’s Wadi El-Zolmat, according to the Ministry of Tourism and
Anquities mission which is documenting rock inscriptions in Sinai.

The newly discovered cave, which is located in a tributary of Wadi El-

Zolmat or Valley of Darkness, holds unique and diverse groups of rock
engravings.

Ayman Ashmawy, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities sector, said the cave
is in a mountainous area of limestone about 90 km southeast of the city
of Qantara, and 60 km east of the Suez Canal. He added that the
engraved scenes inside the cave differ significantly in artistic style from
those found in the valleys of South Sinai. The cave will be studied
further to determine its history.

Ashmawy also said that the cave, the first of its type to be discovered in
Wadi El-Zolmat, is larger than the recently discovered Zaranij cave. The
cave’s ceiling is of weak limestone, and is filled with large quantities of
animal waste and fire ash.

Hisham Hussein, Director General of the North Sinai Archaeology

Region and the mission’s head, said that most of the unearthed scenes
were carved along the walls of the inner cave. They depict a number of
animals, including unique representations of camels, deer, mules,
mountain goats, alongside many scenes of donkeys.

Yahya Hassanein, Director General of Antiquities of Al-Arish, said that

Wadi El-Zolmat stands at 15 meters in length and about 20 meters high.

Monuments:

El-Maghara Castle: is located to the south of El-Arish, and is above the

sea-level by 100 m approximately.

El-Haven Castle: is 20 km far from Al-Arish.

Arish Castle: is built by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in 1560 and is
located to the south-west of el-Arish. It witnessed remarkable historical
events such as the Treaty of el-Arish in 1800 between the Turks and the
French campaign.

Nekhel Castle: A square-shaped five-towered castle that dates back to

the reign of Sultan Qansuh Ghouri.

Tina Castle: is 32 km far from Balouza-Port Fouad Road. It is one of the

major ports in the Mamluk era. The great octagonal-shaped castle
dates back to the reign of Sultan Qansuh Ghouri 1508 AD, as it includes
many military and pigeon towers and a large mosque.

Om Moufarrej Castle: dates back to the Mamluk era. It represents a

fortified military tower.