|
An ancient caravan stop for the date trade, the great Siwa oasis is located in the desert area of northwestern Egypt, a few kilometers from the border with Libya, and is known for its Pharaonic-era remains, embroidery production, and agriculture. Lying in a deep depression, the oasis consists of thirteen villages, whose inhabitants belong to ten Berber tribes. Irrigation is brackish and suitable only for tolerant crops: dates (the most important) olives, mint, and carcade. The three most important local cultivars are siwi, frehi, and azzawi. The time of ripening is different: amnzou fruits in September, siwi and azzawi in early October, ghazaal in late October, and taktakt in December-January.
|
