Announced in 1989, El Hassana Dome Protectorate is in the Giza governorate and covers a land area of one square km, just 23 km from Cairo.
Location of El Hassana Dome Protectorate
El Hassana Dome is a unique protected area in Giza Governorate, Egypt. It is located in Abu Rawash, around 8 kilometres from the fantastic Pyramids of Giza. The Protectorate is divided into two parts by the Cairo- Alexandria desert road.
Etymology
El Hassana Dome Protectorate derives from dome-shaped hills at the foot of the Hassana valley. It is of one kind, and although it is small in terms of area, it contains unique geological formations, rocks and seashells along with a variety of fossils for some plants, coral reefs and animals with a history of about a hundred million years.
El Hassana Dome Protectorate, meanwhile, is divided into two by the Cairo- Alexandria highway. The Protectorate is split in two by the Cairo-Alexandria Desert Highway, which runs directly through it. Its western side is rich in chalky sedimented hills, seashells, and plant and animal fossils dating back to the Upper Cretaceous Period. The Protectorate is one of the smallest in Egypt and is not very popular among tourists. The Protectorate is purely geological, and one cannot find much where plants, animals or wildlife are considered. Also, urbanization and pollution have taken a toll. The New Giza housing project is located nearby.
Declaration of El Hassana Dome Protectorate
El Hassana Dome Protectorate was announced as a protected area in 1989 AD. However, it was discovered in the mid-nineteenth century by the French engineer Gustave Le Febrve upon the order of Mohamed Ali Pasha, the ruler of Egypt at that time. It is visited mainly by those interested in exploring the geological field and studying the science of fossils. In addition, it allows scientists to learn more about the ancient environmental conditions and climate changes that occurred over the past years in this region—learning more about these conditions helps discover more about ancient history. Therefore, it is considered a natural museum with paramount scientific and cultural importance. Unfortunately, it is said that its wealth of fossils and geological significance is being threatened in the meantime as a result of the progression and continuous works of construction.
Characteristics
The Hassana Dome is often referred to as a museum or a specialized scientific institute which helps study geology and several geological formations, including faults and folds, and compare these formations with other places. The dome is a perfect area for studying fossil science due to the existence of fossils preserved here in ideally reserved colonies. The climate change which characterizes the site also helps in the studies greatly. The marine fossils found here depict a complete record of ancient history.
The Hassana dome covers an area of one square km, and the highest point is 149 meters above sea level. Meanwhile, the highest point in the eastern part rises to about 109 meters above sea level. It is also known to have some rare plant species found only in northern Egypt.
History of the reserve
The distinguished history of the El Hassana Dome Protectorate is depicted in its topographical merits and its geological makeup. It is located on the Cairo-Alexandria road at Abu Rawash and about 8 km from the Great Giza Pyramids. It is the only reserve near Cairo with remnants from the crustaceous age dating back about one million years. The rocks found here belong to the Stone Age and are believed to have been formed 60 million years from the rocky age about 40 million years back.
Excavation
The quarried content of the Al Hassana Dome gives it a distinguished meaning where the components are gathered as a well-preserved canton. The place represents an open museum with a complete record of ancient life, its climate, and the environment during the late Cretaceous age, which dates back about 100 million years.
Local Community
With an area of just one square kilometre, the Protectorate is one of Egypt’s smallest. While not a well-known tourist destination, it is increasingly surrounded by urbanization and the pollution accompanying it. The upscale New Giza housing project lies immediately at its southern border, while a network of pipelines is currently being installed along its eastern side. Quarries operate in the vicinity, and commercial farms are found along its southeast border.
