Major Cities and Towns About the Area The Fayoum is a wonderful
area of Egypt with a rich and interesting history. It is an area
where Egyptians often vacation and which is constantly growing
more popular among Europeans. This 692 sq. mile depression was a
lush paradise during prehistoric times. It's water level was
eighty-five meters higher than today (currently 45 meters below
sea level) and the Nile regularly flooded through the low
mountains separating it from the Fayoum. At 215 square km, the
current lake Qaroun remains Egypt's largest salt water lake. The
prehistoric people who lived here were, at first, nomadic
hunters and gatherers, but later began harvesting plants near
the lake. This developed into what is said to be the earliest
agricultural area in the world, where fences were erected and
guarded warehouses built. It has remained an agriculture center,
well known for it's fruits, vegetables and chickens. But
agriculture is not the Fayoums only claim for being first. The
Greek mummy portraits found