Siwa

Siwa, commonly known as Siwa Oasis, is an oasis in the Western Desert of Egypt, near the border with Libya, within Matrouh Governorate. It sits in a remote pocket of the Qattara Depression and consists of date palm groves and a network of springs and wells sustained by groundwater. The oasis experiences a hot desert climate with cool nights in winter.

Siwa is inhabited by the Siwan people, who speak Siwi, a Berber language, alongside Arabic. The community maintains traditional crafts, clothing, and social structures, and the oasis has become a destination for eco-tourism and cultural tourism, with guesthouses and guided visits to historical sites.

Historically Siwa has a long record, with ancient ruins and a temple complex associated with the Oracle of Amun, where Alexander the Great is said to have been confirmed as a son of Amun. The Shali Fortress, a late medieval mud-brick settlement, dominates the town, and nearby springs such as Cleopatra’s Bath are popular points of interest.

Economy and environment: agriculture (dates, olives) remains central, supported by irrigation from artesian wells; tourism provides employment, with visitors drawn to the oasis’s scenery, desert landscape, and historical sites. The area faces water management and development pressures, while authorities and local communities seek to preserve its cultural heritage and ecosystem.