NEW VALLEY=NEW LIFE

The past, present and future map of Egyptian civilization has the New Valley on it. This part occupies two thirds of Egypt's area. It is the land of promise in modern revival and urbanization. Demographically speaking, the New Valley will avail itself for Egyptians to be released of the narrow strip on the banks of the present course of the River Nile. The current space is short of satisfying the great ambitions towards a brighter future.

The New Valley & the oases are special and distinguished as community, environment, natural components, cultural heritage and social features. It is an exclusivity which merges into the homogeneity of Egyptian texture; oneness in diversity.

It is a great pleasure to present in word and picture stories of the past, facts of the present and promise of the future on the land of the New Valley that possesses natural, geographic and human resources; social and cultural heritage; folk arts; then the constituents of comprehensive development, so as to make tomorrow better within context of the dream project, i.e. another valley parallel to the Nile's to race with it in the advancement and progress contest.

Future envisaged
Outside the populous valley is the future envisaged for Egypt; heading for vast horizons of land, with a view to opening new vistas for development and progress.

Tailoring construction and investment map, therefore, is one of the fundamental pillars of Egypt's revival while on the thresholds of the 21st Century. Hence the orientation to adopt a gigantic national scheme to develop Sinai peninsula and its surroundings; digging Al- Salam Canal to convey the fresh water of the River Nile streaming to yield welfare around. Great development projects along the Suez Canal and the Red Sea coast are, also, visualized.

Such project, anyway, is integrated with another grand scheme to develop and promote south Egypt, in such a manner that goes in line with the ongoing projects to develop the northern coast of Egypt in terms of tourism, industry and new urban communities.

The New Valley is a crucial area which extends from the River Nile western bank to international borders to both the south and west. It remains full of investment- suitable climate of all sorts of constituents, as it has land very much favourable to be cultivated, not to mention all other elements.

Given the above, and following panoramic studies conducted by sophisticated experts, it was decided to launch the ever-aggressive project in Egypt, displaying out-right vision that conceives digging canal to transfer River Nile waters from lake Nasser to irrigate hundreds of thousands of feddans along with establishing new industrial zones and tourist sites.

This, however, aims at unleashing prospects, creating new communities away from the overcrowded Delta; giving room to establishing modern civilization parallel to that made by Ancient Egyptians along the River Nile over 7000 years ago.

Land & People
The New Valley area is located in the south western part of the Arab Republic of Egypt, extending along west the Nile valley in the western desert. Governorates of Menia, Assuit, Sohag and Qena border it from the east. Matrouh and El-Bahariya oasis border it from the west along the international boundaries with Libya.

As for the south, it is adjacent to the international borders with the Sudan. Such area was formerly called the governorate of western desert. The New Valley (Al-Wadi Al-Gadid) name, however, dates back to 1958.

The area of the New Valley is 376,505 sq. km, constituting 37.6% of Egypt's entire land.

It includes three main downhills, 200 to 300 km away from the River Nile, which are El-Kharga, El-Dakhla and Al-Farafra oases.

El-Kharga is the capital city of the New Valley. It is divided into three districts; El-Kharga which consists of 8 rural councils, El-Dakhla which includes 7 rural councils, together with Mot city, and there is also El-Farafra city, besides two other rural councils.

Al-Wadi Al-Gadid (The New Valley) Governorate is linked with the Nile Valley through highways networks; Cairo-Assuit and Luxor-Kharga.

Establishing two highways, to link El-Farafra and Dayrout directly to Assuit, are underway, besides the local roads networks. There is, also, regular airline between Cairo International Airport and the New Valley airport in El-Kharga.

This Governorate is the biggest in Egypt, still only 150,000 reside there; just 0,004% density per sq. km.

History
The oases area, in Egypt's western desert, has played a significant role over various ages of ancient Egyptian history, as El-Kharga oasis in the Pharaonic era was called "plough", El-Dakhla oasis was termed "southern oasis", while Al-Farafera oasis was named "cow", which clearly speaks of welfare, as such areas were fully cultivated.

El-Kharga and El-Dakhla oases, in the Pharaonic era, were one region affiliated to "Thani" region near Suhag, as Pharaonic rulers were keen on maintaining stability and prosperity, considering such area the vital defence front-line of Egypt to stand against any offensive either from the west or the south.

When Persian Qambiz invaded Egypt in the 6th Century BC, leading an army from Thebes to capture "Amon" oasis and to burn his temple in Siwa, none of Qambiz's soldiers of fortune managed to reach Al-Wahi (inspiration) Temple in Siwa.

As Persian invaders deemed such puzzle as unseen wrath inflicted on their army, King Dara who succeeded Qambiz, reconciliated with residents of the oases, completing Hibesis Temple building and decoration.

As for the Greek-Roman era, Ptolemaists gave a great heed to developing agriculture in these oases. Romans, also, exploited such fertile lands, digging wells known as "Roman eyes", utilizing "Darb Al-Arbaen" and causing trade to thrive.

In third and fourth centuries BC, when Roman suppression towards Christians increased, too many of Egypt's Copts fled to such oases, as they established over there cultivated and arable lands, leaving behind several remains and monuments, namely the Bagawat in El-Kharga. This indicates a Christian presence in the area at that time.

The oases had viable role, especially with the advent of Islam to Egypt, when the Islamic Qasr Village in El-Dakhla received the first Muslims whose monuments so far remain.

Monuments
Successive historical ages, experienced by the New Valley area, had left behind several priceless monuments.

Such three aforementioned oases in the New Valley harbour more than 100 ancient sites, as several Pharaonic and Roman temples are scattered there, for example, Al-Ghoeta, Al-Nadora and Dosh temples.

Debris of the military fortifications, such as Al-Naga and Al-Monera castles are still there, in addition to remains of roads used to be beaten by caravans, such as "Darb Al-Arbaen".

There are, also, Christian monuments, represented in "Al-Bagawat" cemetery built in the premier Christian ages. Still 263 significant monuments remain there.

As for the most famous monuments of El-Dakhla, it is the tile steps (mustaba) which was the venue of the oases residents during Old and Middle Pharaonic Kingdoms.

There are, also, Islamic monuments in plenty, such as Sheikh Bashandi's dome and tomb, in addition to some splendid villages like Qasr and Balat.

Sightseeing
Although Egyptians have discovered several areas of western desert and resided there a long time ago, still the nature in such spacious scope is virgin. The New Valley land, moreover, abounds in several and various elements of beauty; natural dunes, hills of fine sand and rocks, in addition to favourable climate for Safari, desert hiking, overland expedition and tourism of adventures.

Not to mention, the area of White Desert near El-Farafra which has fossil formations created by nature in such splendid shapes, some of which take man shape and some take animal's, while the entire area is clad in white colour. Water wells exhibit another source of beauty and attraction, as they diversify between monumental, like the famous Roman, and hot-mineral water springs utilized in treating diseases, as some of such springs are 43 degree centigrade.

Pools, also, are scattering everywhere, namely the pool of ducks in Boulak; a 300-feddan pool of migrant birds west El-Farafra along with many other wonderful pools. In Hens valley east El-Farafra, there is vast area for tourism of adventures and Safari, as palm oases and Roman wells spread, let alone, wild life teeming with kinds of foxes and deers. 160 km away from El-Farafra exists one of the most famous natural caves.

Vocational crafts
People of the New Valley, as a matter of fact, have their distinguished and unique character, habits, traditions, manners, rituals and even their very much special folklore, clothes and occupations they inherited, representing the outcome of Man marriage to Nature.

Accordingly, so many arts; music, drawing and plastic art - which depend on natural material - are everywhere. This peculiarity was reflected on houses' designs and furniture styles. Palm leaves standing industry, resting upon palm tree products, is one of the most thriving industries, together with carpets, rugs and hand-made mats.

Development plans
Despite the time-honoured history of Egyptian man on the oases land, great prospects for development are not yet fully utilized. The government has paid attention - during the successive development plans - to triggering an all-out scheme in the New Valley area.

In agricultural field, for instance, the New Valley governorate has spacious area of fertile and arable lands, still water is the first and foremost decisive factor in the cultivation process, as the oases depend on about 1172 wells of subterranean waters, daily discharging 2.6 million cubic meters, nearly 0.9 billion cubic meters of water annually.

Schemes of development aim to expanding the cultivated spot, hence half a million feddans are conceived to be irrigated by subterranean water, including 110,000 feddans in El-Farafra, 189 feddans in east Oweinat area, and 200,000 feddans located south El-Kharga.

As for industry, comprehensive plan was penciled to improve and promote industries based on domestic raw materials. Industries of dates, textile, carpet, mat and tomato paste speak of a sound industrial base in the New Valley.

The industrial zone was established in El-Kharga, harbouring 200 industrial units built over 253,000 square meters. A similar industrial zone was established in El-Dakhla. Also infrastructure operations were completed to encourage investors.

As for mining, the New Valley is full of mineral resources, as it has - in plenty - marble, lime stone and granite, together with huge quantities of sand good for use in glass industries.

The New Valley, furthermore, has great amount - 7 billion tons - of crude phosphate. The giant project in Abou Tartour, north El-Kharga was launched to utilize such wealth in several industries, such as the phosphoric acid and phosphatic fertilizers factories in Safaga and the Red Sea.

Sound infrastructure was laid down to serve investment process and to be the springboard for the visualized breakthrough; utilities and services of all sorts are very much there, including a paved roads network and the Kharga-Qena-Safaga railway - the widest railroad in Egypt - opened in 1996.

Communication, electricity, housing, education, health care services are available at the highest levels.

Radio and TV transmission reaches the oases of the New Valley via a gigantic station. There is also a local broadcast and two information centers.

The Dream
Despite all efforts exerted in developing the New Valley, still the Egyptians have much aspirations to be realized through exploiting all prospects available.

So a giant project to create new horizons before millions of inhabitants of the Nile Valley, was a must to give up populous area for wider space. President Mubarak's project, accordingly, came to establish a new Delta parallel to the old one, starting by digging a canal, extending from south the High Dam near Toshki Spillway, to transfer Nile waters.

The project has it in view to irrigate and reclaim new 2.1 million feddans, 500,000 feddans among which are decided for the first phase. 10 great industrial zones are excluded to establishing heavy industries; fertilizers and cement, etc...

In fact, this aggressive project has already been kicked off, starting with digging Sheikh Zayed Canal which is the first phase of the project. It became quite obvious, then, that a new stage of the history of this vast land of Egypt was inaugurated to build up another great civilization parallel to that of the Old Valley.

Antiquities
The oases of the New Valley went through different historical ages that left behind several monuments which indicate the kind of civilization and prosperity this area had witnessed in the different ages of Pharaonic, Greek, Roman, Coptic and Islamic Egypt.

The oases: Kharga, Dakhla and Farafra include dozens of ancient sites housing temples, tombs, edifices' remnants, cities and roads.

Monuments of Kharga
There are several historical sites in Kharga, the capital of the New Valley. In those sites, a lot of tools used in pre-dynasty ages were found, as well as some Mokharbashat (engravings) of the Old Kingdom, some in Mount El-Tayr near Kharga and some in El-Ghobary road connecting Kharga with Dakhla. Funeral paintings of the 2nd Dynasty were unearthed, as they portray heads of campaigns from Thebes or Abidos for the purpose of inspection of the oases and keeping their security.

Kharga used to be connected to the Nile Valley through several caravan roads coming from Abidos, Luxor and Essna. They are Darb El-Yabese, Darb El-Refouf, Darb Abo-Serwal, Darb Boulaq, Darb El-Gaga and Darb Dosh.

In addition, there was Darb El-Arbaen connecting Egypt's Assuit with Sudan's Darfor. It was also called Darb El-Wahat (oases) and has been mentioned in a lot of the Old Kingdom engravings.

Kharga and Dakhla were also connected with two roads, one is El-Ghobary which is currently used as motorcar road, the other is Ein Amor going through the hill area north to the oasis.

In the Kharga oasis, there are a lot of important monuments and historical sites. Some of the most interesting of its temples are: Hebes, Ghoweta, Nadhora, Zayan and Dosh; all built with sand stone, of walls covered by several engravings.

Also in Kharga, there are some remnants of forts and military posts, as well as castles, like Langa, Mouneira and Dosh. As for the most prominent Christian monument, it is El-Bagawat cemetery; and next to it traces of the Ein Saaf houses are found.

Monuments of Dakhla
Dakhla, together with Kharga oases form one administrative unit. In Dakhla, a painting of the Middle Kingdom in Ancient Egypt was found, as well as paintings of the 12th Dynasty in the village of Balat.

The Dakhla oasis was frequently mentioned in Pharaonic scriptures for its superiority in wine-making and abundance of vineyards. Some important paintings were also found - now preserved in Ashmolian Museum in Oxford - which date back to the 22nd and 25th Pharaonic Dynasties and which were concerned with the ownership of water sources and springs.

In Qasr, Dakhla, there are remnants of the temple of god Tehout. 10 km away there is the famous temple of Deir El-Hagar.

Under the Turkish rule of Egypt, the city of Qalamoun was the capital of the Dakhla oasis where there used to be military forces to establish security.

As for the Balat area in Dakhla, it was the place of the rulers of the oases in the Pharaonic era, especially in the age of the Old and Middle Kingdoms where there used to be five mastabas (outdoor stone benches or steps) for burial of the rulers of Kharga and Dakhla in the era of King Bibi I and II, next to the city of Ein Aseel.

The most significant monument of Dakhla is the temple of Deir El-Hagar built in 45/96 AD, the two tombs of El-Mosawaq from the Roman era, as well as the Mastabas of Balat which actually are Pharaonic tombs of the 6th Dynasty covered by Roman mastabas.

Monuments of Farafra
Farafra was mentioned in the Ancient Egyptian documents, especially since the 10th Dynasty in the 21st Century BC, by the name of "Ta Ahat" meaning the land of the cow. It was also mentioned in the texts on the occasional raids of tribes.

In the center of Farafra, there are the remnants of a palace built of clay, with several other plain tombs of rocks, remnants of a Roman temple at the area of Ein Bess, as well as other tombs and some relics near the Farafra palace.

Land of promise
The Egyptian man inhabited vast areas of desert extending west the River Nile valley, especially in the oases which has known long ages of flourishment, prosperity and urbanisation. Despite a full-fledged history of Egypt's western and southern oases, still the land is virgin waiting to unleash full potentials.