Al Fayoum Oasis

The Al Fayoum oasis is situated in a depression about 100 km south-west of Cairo. The name Fayoum originates from the hieroglyphic word Payoum, which meant "The Sea", a reference to the large inland lake Qarun. It's present day capital "Ihnasia", which during the Pharaonic period was called "Birsin" or "House of the Crocodile", the sacred animal at that time.