The Whale Valley/Fayoum project: EPEX/AAPG members lead the way for preservation of geological heritage

Photo: Multi-industry, government field trip to Whale Valley, Feb., 2002

This is an exciting multi-industry approach to conservation of a rich geological, paleontological and archeological heritages.

AAPG/EPEX volunteers work closely with the Egyptian Environmenatal Affairs Agency (EEAA), the Egyptian Italian Protectorate, the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the World Commission on Protected Areas, the Fayoum Business Men's Association, oil and gas companies and the North -South Consultants Exhange, dedicated to bringing eco-tourism to the Fayoum basin.

We provide advice on the technical aspects of the geology of the area and potential for future research, museum or other interpretive development and protection.

Most recently, we completed a Field Trip Report at the request of the EEAA which is currently being used to examine longer term protection of the resources of the area. CLICK HERE to VIEW THE SUMMARY REPORT.

Location of the Fayoum Basin and Whale Valley

Interpreted paleogeography of the Upper Eocene, Whale Valley. Work in progress with Phil Gingerich, Univ. of Michigan, suggests the rich fossil whale site is an ancient estuarine basin and calving area. Red triangles on the map are outcrop locations.

397+ skeletons of 5 different primitive Basillosaurus species, in addition to 70+ Sirenia (sea cows or manatees) like this litter the desert floor and are in need of protection and interpretation.

According to Phil, there is currently no one single complete Basillosaurus skeleton reconstructed to date, but full skeletons area preserved in this basin. The reconstruction at left is inaccurate, lacking the serpentine shape of the actual whale. Funding is needed to bring one out for full restoration and dissemination to museums as casted reconstructions.

The Qasr El Saga temple area in the Fayoum Basin is the site of world-class paleo-estuarine deposits, neolithic and Pharonic age artifacts. The photo is from a recent multi-industry/government field trip.

Interpreted Oligocene highstand map, Fayoum area. Oligocene fluvial and lacustrine deposits hold some of the most complete vertebrate records of primate evolution in the world.

Driving through the Eocene/Oligocene at Qasr El Saga takes you near the oldest paved road in the World. This 5000+ year old road was used to haul basalt from quarries to ancient Lake Moeris. Be careful to drive around, and not over, the road. This is another feature in real need of preservation and protection.

Giant petrified forests are preserved in two benches in the early Oligocene above Qasr El Saga. The climate was monsoonal, and thick paleosols also developed. These forests rival the Petrified National Park in Arizona in size.

Oligo-Miocene basalt flows were quarried for thousands of years, hauled to Lake Moeris (now Qarun Lake) and shipped all over Egypt and adjacent countries for statuary purposes. Mangrove swamp deposits and thousands of fossil termite nests riddle the quarry locations.

Collectively, there is over 40 million years of evolution and geology, Neolithic, Pharonic, Greco-Roman human history, delicate desert wildlife and stunning scenery to protect in this rapidly growing province south of Cairo.