Phytoplankton and benthic communities of a small water body (Sacred Lake, Karnak Temple) Luxor, Egypt

Hamed, A. F. and Shafik, H. M. and Shaaban, A. S. (2003) Phytoplankton and benthic communities of a small water body (Sacred Lake, Karnak Temple) Luxor, Egypt. Acta Botanica Hungarica, 45 (1-2). pp. 101-112. ISSN 0236-6495

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Abstract

The Karnak Temple is a tourist attraction site in Luxor, Egypt. Sacred Lake lies inside the Karnak Temple, it is an important lake from both historical and touristical point of views. About 4,000 years ago the ancient Egyptians used this lake as a saint place. The priests were washing in the lake four to five times a day. The lake area is about 3,200 m2. The lake was shallow before 1985 and the floras of the lake had been monospecific cyanoprokaryote (Microcystis flos-aquae or Spirulina labyrinthiformis). In 1985 Nile water was circulated through the lake by the so-called French project. In 1993, the pumping of Nile water was stopped and the water became stored and not renewed again. The increase in the water level of the lake since 1985 followed by stopping the water circulation in 1993 have a negative impact, making the lake similar to a fishpond. Now, sixteen taxa of cyanobacteria and Chlorophyta were determined in the lake together with dense vegetation of the aquatic plant Potamogeton pectinatus L. during the two expeditions in April and October 1996. The presence of this diversified flora, especially the bad smell resulting from the growth of algae and aquatic plant has adverse effects on tourism. Restoration of the ancient picture of the lake is recommended and some suggestions were emphasised in this study. We would like to call attention for protection of the lake by continuous cleaning. This suggestion will help in restoring the lake to its ancient status.

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