Lake Timsah, also known as Crocodile Lake (Arabic: بُحَيْرة التِّمْسَاح); is a lake in Egypt on the Nile delta. It lies in a basin developed along a fault extending from the Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf of Suez through the Bitter Lakes region.[1] In 1800, a flood filled the Wadi Tumilat, which caused Timsah's banks to overflow and moved water south into the Bitter Lakes about nine miles (14 km) away.[2] In 1862, the lake was filled with waters from the Red Sea, and became part of the Suez Canal.[3]
Lake Timsah
Map of the Nile Delta showing Lake Timsah at center right.
Lake Timsah lies within a depression that spans the isthmus between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.[4] The lowest points of the depression form shallow natural lakes, of which Timsah is one.[4] The surface area of Lake Timsah covers 5.4 square miles.[5] Most of the lake is marshy and depth rarely exceeds 3 feet (1 metre).[6]
It has been asserted that, in ancient times, Lake Timsah was the northern terminus of the Red Sea.[7][8]
On March 4, 1863, the city of Ismailia, named in honor of the viceroy Ismail Pasha, arose on Lake Timsah's northern bank.[9] Several beaches overlook the lake, including the Moslem Youth, Fayrouz, Melaha, Bahary, Taawen, and a few Suez Canal Authority beaches.[5]
Lake Timsah possibly first became a juncture for canal construction approximately 4,000 years ago during the Middle Kingdom of Egypt,[10] and was expanded by Darius I.[11]
Suez Canaledit
The Suez Canal at Ismailia by the northern bank of Lake Timsah, c. 1860. Completion of the segment brought waters from Lake Manzaleh to Lake Timsah.
Suez Canal construction in the vicinity of Lake Timsah began in 1861 on the segment north of the lake.[12] Initial preparations included the construction of sheds to house 10,000 workers, steam sawmills, and importation of large quantities of wheelbarrows and wooden planks.[12] 3,000 laborers dug a channel (Ismailia Canal) from the Nile to Lake Timsah in 1861 and 1862, which brought a fresh water supply to the area.[12][13] It was also proposed to construct a halfway port at this point along the canal.[14] The Ismailia section of the Suez Canal, which connected Lake Manzala to Lake Timsah, was completed in November 1862.[13] Construction of the segment was completed with forced labor, which expanded the workforce to 18,000 men.[12][13] The trench measured 50 feet (15 m) wide by four to six feet deep and connected Lake Timsah to the Mediterranean Sea.[12] Work began south of Lake Timsah in 1862-1863 as expansion continued on the northern segment.[12] Forced labor was used during canal construction from March 1862 until Ismail Pasha outlawed the practice in 1864.[13] As a result of the canal, waters from Lake Manzaleh flowed into Lake Timsah.[13] Expansion continued on the northern segment until 1867 and on the southern segment until 1876.[12]
Environmentedit
Salinityedit
Lake Timsah is a brackish lake that experiences significant variations in salinity.[6] Human engineering projects have impacted salinity, with resulting changes in the lake's biota.[6] Decreases in salinity were noted as early as 1871 following Suez Canal construction, and subsequent enlargement of the channel from the Nile and other construction projects increased the inflow of fresh water to the lake.[6] The El-Gamil outlet serves as Lake Timsah's principal source of salt water.[6] Timsah's main source of fresh water was annual Nile flooding until the Aswan High Dam interrupted these flows in 1966, although groundwater also accounts for much of the lake's freshwater supply.[6] Lake Timsah experiences both stratification variations in salinity and seasonal surface variations in salinity, and in recent decades freshwater taxa have been overtaking brackish taxa.[6]
Pollutionedit
In 2002, a study was conducted to check the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in fish and shellfish species that locals consume from the lake.[15] Samples included tilapia, crabs, bivalves, clams and gastropods.[15] The results showed that crabs contained "significantly higher concentrations of both total and carcinogenic PAHs than other species, while clams contained significantly lower levels of PAHs."[15]
In 2003, a number of groups attempted to relieve the lake of pollution.[16] It was a significant event for the local community, since the lake is of economic importance to the city and its fishermen.[16]
Notesedit
^Gmirkin, Russell E. (2006). Berossus and Genesis, Manetho and Exodus. Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 231. ISBN0-567-02592-6.
^ abcdefgStephan Gollasch, Andrew N. Cohen (2006). Bridging Divides: Maritime Canals as Invasion Corridors. Springer. p. 229. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
^The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, s.v. "Suez Canal". Accessed 14 May 2008.
^Naville, Édouard. "Map of the Wadi Tumilat" (plate image), in The Store-City of Pithom and the Route of the Exodus (1885). London: Trubner and Company.
^Shea, William H. "A Date for the Recently Discovered Eastern Canal of Egypt" Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, No. 226 (Apr., 1977), pp. 31-38
^Paice, Patricia "Persians" in Kathryn A. Bard and Steven Blake Shubert, eds. Encyclopedia of the Archeology of Ancient Egypt(New York: Routledge, 1999),
^ abcdefgRoyal Statistical Society (Great Britain), Statistical Society (Great Britain). (1887). Journal of the Royal Statistical Society. Royal Statistical Society. pp. 503–509. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
^ abcdeW.O. Henderson (2006). The Industrial Revolution on the Continent: Germany, France, Russia 1800-1914. W.O. Henderson. p. 151. ISBN9780415382021. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
^Rogers, Jerry R.; Brown, Glenn Owen; Garbrecht, Jürgen (2004). Water Resources and Environmental History. ASCE Publications. p. 124. ISBN0-7844-0738-X.
^ abYasmine El-Rashidi. "Making a city livable". Al-Ahram News. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
Referencesedit
Hoffmeier, James Karl (2005). Ancient Israel in Sinai. Oxford University Press US. ISBN0-19-515546-7.
Stanley, Henry Morton. My Early Travels and Adventures in America and Asia.
Nourse, Joseph Everett. The Maritime Canal of Suez.
External linksedit
Encyclopædia Britannica Online
February 16, 2024
lake, timsah, also, known, crocodile, lake, arabic, رة, الت, اح, lake, egypt, nile, delta, lies, basin, developed, along, fault, extending, from, mediterranean, gulf, suez, through, bitter, lakes, region, 1800, flood, filled, wadi, tumilat, which, caused, tims. Lake Timsah also known as Crocodile Lake Arabic ب ح ي رة الت م س اح is a lake in Egypt on the Nile delta It lies in a basin developed along a fault extending from the Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf of Suez through the Bitter Lakes region 1 In 1800 a flood filled the Wadi Tumilat which caused Timsah s banks to overflow and moved water south into the Bitter Lakes about nine miles 14 km away 2 In 1862 the lake was filled with waters from the Red Sea and became part of the Suez Canal 3 Lake TimsahMap of the Nile Delta showing Lake Timsah at center right Lake TimsahLocationAl Isma iliyah EgyptCoordinates30 34 00 N 32 17 00 E 30 56667 N 32 28333 E 30 56667 32 28333 Lake Timsah Lake typeHydrographicSurface area14 km2 5 4 sq mi Water volume80 000 000 m3 2 8 109 cu ft Contents 1 Geography 2 Canals 2 1 Canal of the Pharaohs 2 2 Suez Canal 3 Environment 3 1 Salinity 3 2 Pollution 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksGeography editLake Timsah lies within a depression that spans the isthmus between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea 4 The lowest points of the depression form shallow natural lakes of which Timsah is one 4 The surface area of Lake Timsah covers 5 4 square miles 5 Most of the lake is marshy and depth rarely exceeds 3 feet 1 metre 6 It has been asserted that in ancient times Lake Timsah was the northern terminus of the Red Sea 7 8 On March 4 1863 the city of Ismailia named in honor of the viceroy Ismail Pasha arose on Lake Timsah s northern bank 9 Several beaches overlook the lake including the Moslem Youth Fayrouz Melaha Bahary Taawen and a few Suez Canal Authority beaches 5 Canals editCanal of the Pharaohs edit nbsp Approximate location of Canal of the PharaohsMain article Canal of the Pharaohs Lake Timsah possibly first became a juncture for canal construction approximately 4 000 years ago during the Middle Kingdom of Egypt 10 and was expanded by Darius I 11 Suez Canal edit nbsp The Suez Canal at Ismailia by the northern bank of Lake Timsah c 1860 Completion of the segment brought waters from Lake Manzaleh to Lake Timsah Suez Canal construction in the vicinity of Lake Timsah began in 1861 on the segment north of the lake 12 Initial preparations included the construction of sheds to house 10 000 workers steam sawmills and importation of large quantities of wheelbarrows and wooden planks 12 3 000 laborers dug a channel Ismailia Canal from the Nile to Lake Timsah in 1861 and 1862 which brought a fresh water supply to the area 12 13 It was also proposed to construct a halfway port at this point along the canal 14 The Ismailia section of the Suez Canal which connected Lake Manzala to Lake Timsah was completed in November 1862 13 Construction of the segment was completed with forced labor which expanded the workforce to 18 000 men 12 13 The trench measured 50 feet 15 m wide by four to six feet deep and connected Lake Timsah to the Mediterranean Sea 12 Work began south of Lake Timsah in 1862 1863 as expansion continued on the northern segment 12 Forced labor was used during canal construction from March 1862 until Ismail Pasha outlawed the practice in 1864 13 As a result of the canal waters from Lake Manzaleh flowed into Lake Timsah 13 Expansion continued on the northern segment until 1867 and on the southern segment until 1876 12 Environment editSalinity edit Lake Timsah is a brackish lake that experiences significant variations in salinity 6 Human engineering projects have impacted salinity with resulting changes in the lake s biota 6 Decreases in salinity were noted as early as 1871 following Suez Canal construction and subsequent enlargement of the channel from the Nile and other construction projects increased the inflow of fresh water to the lake 6 The El Gamil outlet serves as Lake Timsah s principal source of salt water 6 Timsah s main source of fresh water was annual Nile flooding until the Aswan High Dam interrupted these flows in 1966 although groundwater also accounts for much of the lake s freshwater supply 6 Lake Timsah experiences both stratification variations in salinity and seasonal surface variations in salinity and in recent decades freshwater taxa have been overtaking brackish taxa 6 Pollution edit In 2002 a study was conducted to check the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAHs in fish and shellfish species that locals consume from the lake 15 Samples included tilapia crabs bivalves clams and gastropods 15 The results showed that crabs contained significantly higher concentrations of both total and carcinogenic PAHs than other species while clams contained significantly lower levels of PAHs 15 In 2003 a number of groups attempted to relieve the lake of pollution 16 It was a significant event for the local community since the lake is of economic importance to the city and its fishermen 16 Notes edit Gmirkin Russell E 2006 Berossus and Genesis Manetho and Exodus Continuum International Publishing Group p 231 ISBN 0 567 02592 6 Hoffmeier p 43 Stanley p 32 a b Jerry R Rogers Glenn Owen 2004 Water Resources and Environmental History ASCE Publications p 124 ISBN 9780784475508 Retrieved 2009 04 10 a b Ismailia Retrieved 2009 04 09 a b c d e f g Stephan Gollasch Andrew N Cohen 2006 Bridging Divides Maritime Canals as Invasion Corridors Springer p 229 Retrieved 2009 04 10 The Columbia Encyclopedia Sixth Edition s v Suez Canal Accessed 14 May 2008 Naville Edouard Map of the Wadi Tumilat plate image in The Store City of Pithom and the Route of the Exodus 1885 London Trubner and Company Nourse p 54 Shea William H A Date for the Recently Discovered Eastern Canal of Egypt Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research No 226 Apr 1977 pp 31 38 Paice Patricia Persians in Kathryn A Bard and Steven Blake Shubert eds Encyclopedia of the Archeology of Ancient Egypt New York Routledge 1999 a b c d e f g Royal Statistical Society Great Britain Statistical Society Great Britain 1887 Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Royal Statistical Society pp 503 509 Retrieved 2009 04 10 a b c d e W O Henderson 2006 The Industrial Revolution on the Continent Germany France Russia 1800 1914 W O Henderson p 151 ISBN 9780415382021 Retrieved 2009 04 10 Rogers Jerry R Brown Glenn Owen Garbrecht Jurgen 2004 Water Resources and Environmental History ASCE Publications p 124 ISBN 0 7844 0738 X a b c US EPA Retrieved 2009 04 09 a b Yasmine El Rashidi Making a city livable Al Ahram News Retrieved 2009 04 09 References editHoffmeier James Karl 2005 Ancient Israel in Sinai Oxford University Press US ISBN 0 19 515546 7 Stanley Henry Morton My Early Travels and Adventures in America and Asia Nourse Joseph Everett The Maritime Canal of Suez External links editEncyclopaedia Britannica Online Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lake Timsah amp oldid 1196550862, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
