The protected area consists of two interconnected lagoons in Sinai near Port Said on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast. The site is an important wintering and staging area for about 500,000 birds. It is considered the most beautiful of Egypt’s lakes, with its blue-green color contrasting with the surrounding sand dunes which change in color from brown to yellow to pink, depending on the time of day.

Lake Bardawil is an important fishing area for nearby villages. Their livelihood is threatened by the proliferation of weeds which block the channels connecting the lake to the sea.

It is part of Zerenik Protectorate, which was established by the Egyptian National Parks Office in 1985.

Ramsar site no. 407.

The Convention on Wetlands came into force for Egypt on 9 September 1988. Egypt presently has 2 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance, with a surface area of 105,700 hectares. The other site is Lake Burullus.

Reference: www.ramsar.org