Ain El Sira

This is a natural underground spring located south of Cairo in the Imam El Leithy area. It erupted as a result of the 1926 earthquake. Its water has a high salinity level, and its water level fluctuates throughout the year, causing the closure of nearby roads. Currently, the Arab Contractors Company is expanding and deepening the basin.

The spring’s water flow covers an area of ​​approximately 2 square kilometers. To date, this spring has not been developed for tourism.

History of the Lake:
Historian and archaeologist Sameh El-Zahar stated in an interview with Al-Ahram Gate that Ain El Sira existed before the 1926 earthquake and is older than the 1926 event. He emphasized that there is a geographical distinction between sulfurous lakes and lakes formed by the Nile, such as Birket El-Feel (Elephant Lake), which are documented in Egyptian history books.

He added that the absence of mention of Lake Ain El Sira in Mamluk and earlier historical records was due to the lack of historians living nearby or any human settlements, and perhaps because it did not witness a significant historical period or play a political role like Birkat El-Fil, which was submerged by the Nile.

Located south of Fustat, Lake Ain El Sira is a sulfurous lake that was renowned in the last century for its therapeutic properties in treating skin diseases. Recently, however, it has become a slum area, a place for washing and cleaning horses, mules, carts, and makeshift houses and graves, and a sewage outlet for the area’s residents. Its once sulfurous waters have become polluted with sewage, and its public space has transformed into a swamp for animals and a hub for violations and encroachments.

Egyptian newspaper archives from the 1920s indicate that earthquakes cause buildings to collapse, block waterways, and create lakes, and that the loss of life caused by earthquakes is incomparable to that of wars.

Newspapers published a table, coinciding with their coverage of the 1926 earthquake, showing the most significant earthquakes that have occurred in Egypt since the earthquake of 27 BC, through earthquakes in other eras up to modern times, such as the 1870 earthquake, which was followed by three tremors felt by residents of Alexandria, Ismailia, and Cairo, and the 1887 earthquake, which destroyed many homes in Egypt and Sudan, among others.

Al-Zahar says that Ain El-Sira is close to the Mokattam Plateau, the same plateau that contains other sulfur springs, such as Ain Sokhna. He describes it as a limestone plateau, emphasizing that Egypt has been famous for its sulfur springs since ancient times, such as those in Helwan. Al-Zahar stated that the 1926 earthquake may have contributed to the lake’s expansion, but the lake itself predates the earthquake.

The archaeologist praised the state’s efforts to develop the lake. It is worth noting that the Ain El Sira development project included the removal of informal settlements in the Ain El Hayat area, the demolition of the Old Cairo police station, and the demolition of the Imam El Leith Youth Center. The project also involved cleaning the lake of solid waste, aerating the water to restore its natural beauty, creating an artificial island in the middle of the lake, adding several fountains, and developing green spaces along its banks. Furthermore, it included the creation of recreational areas, restaurants, and an open-air theater.

These works were undertaken to restore the historical significance and splendor of the Ain El Sira area, enabling it to rival international tourist destinations. The development work included the construction of bridges at the intersection of Magra El Oyoun and Sayeda Aisha streets, Ain El Sira and the Museum of Civilization, Imam El Shafi’i and the Autostrad intersection, Old Cairo and the Tenth of Ramadan intersection, and the Khayala axis and Ring Road intersection, transforming the area from an eyesore to a beautiful place.