Lake Qarun is located north of the city of Fayoum, about 27 km away. It is one of the deepest lakes, where there are places with depths of up to 14 m. It also contains fish related to saltwater as well as freshwater.
The lake was supplied with Nile water during the flood in the days of the pharaohs due to its low level above sea level (-45 meters). During the reign of the pharaoh of Egypt, Amenemhat III (Egyptian twelfth dynasty), he ordered the construction of a canal to it and two dams to store the Nile water in it during the flood. According to what was mentioned in Herodotus’ manuscripts on the history of ancient Egypt, the lake stored water for 6 months and supplied the lands with water for six months.