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Al-Zaraniq
Reserve,
named
after
“Al-Zarnouk,”
meaning
the
narrow
place.
The
Zaranik
Reserve
lies
on
the
northeastern
coast
of
the
Sinai
Peninsula,
and
is
considered
an
extension
of
Lake
Bardawil.
In
addition
to
the
resident
seabirds,
it
houses
about
450,000
birds
during
their
migration
from
Scandinavia,
Eastern
Europe
and
Russia
to
South
Africa,
on
one
of
the
strangest
bird
journeys
in
the
world.
They
leave
their
nests
at
the
beginning
of
the
fall
season
to
escape
the
bitter
cold
and
frost
of
the
Arctic
Ocean,
and
arrive
at
the
farms
where
they
experience
the
joys
of
warmth
and
mating.
After
a
period
of
rest
and
feeding,
its
flocks
move
to
South
Africa.
Its
journey,
if
measured
by
a
jet
plane,
requires
24
hours
of
continuous
flight
at
a
speed
of
900
kilometers
per
hour,
from
northern
Scandinavia
to
the
southern
tip
of
the
African
continent.
On
their
way
back
to
their
homelands
in
the
spring,
migratory
birds
land
in
the
ponds
again.
This
trip
represents
the
“perpetual
spring”
trips,
as
the
bird
departs
as
temperatures
drop.
In
the
summer
months,
the
temperature
of
the
northern
countries
becomes
more
like
spring,
and
with
the
beginning
of
global
autumn,
the
temperature
of
Sinai
becomes
more
like
spring.
When
the
winter
months
arrive,
the
temperature
in
South
Africa
becomes
spring,
because
it
is
located
in
the
second
southern
hemisphere,
where
spring
is
like
the
fall
of
the
northern
hemisphere.
Al-Zaraniq
is
a
protected
area
with
a
special
nature.
It
was
deserted
and
surrounded
by
saltwater.
When
the
Environmental
Affairs
Agency
was
established
in
1982,
it
called
for
the
protection
of
this
area.
Protection
steps
began
by
setting
up
a
sanctuary
for
the
reserve
so
that
it
would
not
be
exposed
to
attacks
by
poachers
who
forced
the
birds
to
migrate
to
their
traditional
places.
This
matter
drew
the
attention
of
experts
in
the
world
to
the
severe
decrease
in
the
number
of
birds
migrating
from
Egypt,
on
both
trips
back
and
forth.
It
is
known
that
migratory
birds
in
the
world
face
a
severe
shortage
in
their
numbers
and
chicks,
especially
due
to
overfishing
and
the
urbanization
that
has
invaded
the
beaches.
Their
spawning
sites
and
food
sources
decreased,
and
their
traditional
migratory
route
became
threatened
with
extinction.
Hence,
United
Nations
agreements,
such
as
Ramsar,
came
out,
alerting
to
the
devastation
of
migratory
birds.
This
prompted
the
Global
Environment
Facility
(GEF)
to
support
marine
reserves
in
Egypt,
as
well
as
the
German
government,
which
allocated
millions
of
euros
to
build
scientific
centers
for
research
and
visitor
and
bird-watching
centers
in
the
Zaranik
Reserve.
Birds
usually
resort
to
wetlands,
which
vary
in
terms
of
water
salinity
or
freshness,
prevailing
air
currents,
temperatures,
and
types
of
food
available.
Perhaps
one
of
the
most
important
types
of
birds
here
is
the
fisherman,
which
visits
Egypt
throughout
the
winter.
The
great
white
stork
also
crosses
the
area,
and
its
favorite
food
is
locusts.
The
Zaranik
area
is
of
great
importance
for
migratory
birds
from
Eastern
Europe
and
Northwest
Asia.
The
reserve
extends
over
an
area
of
250
square
kilometers,
and
includes
different
environments
from
the
Mediterranean
coast
to
sand
dunes.
It
contains
more
than
500
species
of
plants.
It
is
home
to
about
270
species
of
birds,
including
pelicans,
hawks,
ducks,
egrets,
ibises,
storks,
hawks,
quails,
kites,
curlews,
sandpipers,
gulls,
tamaris,
hawksbills,
and
whelks.
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