In Pics: discover the most popular tourist attractions in South Sinai

CAIRO - 4 November 2019: South Sinai Governorate possesses many Pharaonic monuments and archaeological areas, most importantly the monuments of Serabit el-Khadim, Wadi Maghareh and El-Markha Plain.

Islam Abdel Samie, head of the Tourism Authority of South Sinai, told Egypt Today that one of the oldest carved temples, Goddess Hathor Temple, is located in Serabit el-Khadim.

Hathor is one of the most important ancient Egyptian deities, worshipped in the city of Dandara, Upper Egypt.

Serabit el-Khadim is a mining region and was used by the ancient Egyptians to extract various minerals, mainly turquoise; hence Sinai was named the Land of Turquoise.


Serabit el Khadim - Wikimedia commons

Wadi Maghareh is also a mining region that was used to extract minerals, and contains inscriptions dating back to Pharaonic Egypt (the old, central and modern states).


File:Khufu Wadi Maghara.png - Wikipedia

El-Markha Plain, which extends along the coast of the Gulf of Suez, acted as a maritime port, through which the ancient Egyptians' mining missions entered Sinai to extract minerals.

South Sinai Governorate is the least populated governorate of Egypt, located in the east of the country, encompassing the southern half of the Sinai Peninsula. Saint Catherine's Monastery, an Eastern Orthodox Church monastery and UNESCO World Heritage site of world renown, is located in the central part of the governorate.