418
attributed this shrinking to the reclamation activities and to the construction of the
coastal highway (Hereher 2014). It is predicted that existing reclamation plans will
reduce its area further. Manzala is generally rectangular, about 60 km long and
40 km wide (Baha El-Din 2002). Its coastal line is about 293 km, with maximum
width of 30 km (EEAA 2010). It is separated from the Mediterranean Sea by a narrow sandy fringe (Shakweer 2005), through which it is connected to the sea by four
channels (bughaz) (El-Gamil, Ashtom El-Gamil, El-Diba and El-Baghdadi). Bughaz
El Gamil is the main connection between the lake and the Mediterranean. The lake
is connected to Suez Canal through Boughaz Alkaboty and Damietta branch through
El-Ratama and El-Safra Canals (EEAA 2010).
Large areas in the north-west of the lake have been turned into fish farms. 3.7 km
3
of fresh water flow annually into Lake Manzala from nine major drains and canals.
The most important of these are Faraskur, Al Sarw, Baghous, Abu Garida and Bahr
El Baqar. Of all the drains discharging into Lake Manzala, the Bahr El Baqar drain
is the most polluted (Baha El-Din 2002). Artificial wetland has been established to
reduce the pollution of this drain (El-Quosy 2005).
13.4.2 Burullus Lagoon
13.4.2.1 Site Description
Lake Burullus, the second largest Delta lakes, with total area of about 70,000 feddans. It is elongate in shape extending for c.54 km from east to west with a width of
6–21 km and an estimated average depth of 75–100 cm. The mean annual fish production from the lake is 48,000 (Baha El-Din 2002). Lake Burullus is a shallow
brackish water basin. The lake lies in the north of the Nile Delta, along the
Mediterranean Coast of Egypt between Long. 30°30′ & 31°10′ E and Lat. 31°35′ N
(Fig. 13.3). The lake is separated from the sea by to 5.5 km. The lake is connected
directly to the Mediterranean Sea through El-Burullus outlet, which is about 250 m
wide and 5 m deep. There are some 50 islands scattered throughout the lake with a
total area of 0.7 km
2
. The lake receives drainage waters with anthropogenic materials from agricultural areas through seven drains in addition to the fresh water from
Brembal Canal (El-Sammak and El-Sabrouti 1995). The amount of the drainage
water discharged annually into the lake fluctuates from 1 year to the other (Samaam
et al. 1989).
The north shores of the lake are dominated by saltmarshes and mudflats, while
the southern shore is bordered by an extensive fringe of reed-swamps (mainly
Phragmites and Typha), which currently covers more than 25% of the lake area.
Lake Burullus has abundant submerged vegetation, dominated by Potamogeton,
which is densest in the southern portion of the lake (Baha El-Din 2002).
A.A. El-Gamal
attributed this shrinking to the reclamation activities and to the construction of the
coastal highway (Hereher 2014). It is predicted that existing reclamation plans will
reduce its area further. Manzala is generally rectangular, about 60 km long and
40 km wide (Baha El-Din 2002). Its coastal line is about 293 km, with maximum
width of 30 km (EEAA 2010). It is separated from the Mediterranean Sea by a narrow sandy fringe (Shakweer 2005), through which it is connected to the sea by four
channels (bughaz) (El-Gamil, Ashtom El-Gamil, El-Diba and El-Baghdadi). Bughaz
El Gamil is the main connection between the lake and the Mediterranean. The lake
is connected to Suez Canal through Boughaz Alkaboty and Damietta branch through
El-Ratama and El-Safra Canals (EEAA 2010).
Large areas in the north-west of the lake have been turned into fish farms. 3.7 km
3
of fresh water flow annually into Lake Manzala from nine major drains and canals.
The most important of these are Faraskur, Al Sarw, Baghous, Abu Garida and Bahr
El Baqar. Of all the drains discharging into Lake Manzala, the Bahr El Baqar drain
is the most polluted (Baha El-Din 2002). Artificial wetland has been established to
reduce the pollution of this drain (El-Quosy 2005).
13.4.2 Burullus Lagoon
13.4.2.1 Site Description
Lake Burullus, the second largest Delta lakes, with total area of about 70,000 feddans. It is elongate in shape extending for c.54 km from east to west with a width of
6–21 km and an estimated average depth of 75–100 cm. The mean annual fish production from the lake is 48,000 (Baha El-Din 2002). Lake Burullus is a shallow
brackish water basin. The lake lies in the north of the Nile Delta, along the
Mediterranean Coast of Egypt between Long. 30°30′ & 31°10′ E and Lat. 31°35′ N
(Fig. 13.3). The lake is separated from the sea by to 5.5 km. The lake is connected
directly to the Mediterranean Sea through El-Burullus outlet, which is about 250 m
wide and 5 m deep. There are some 50 islands scattered throughout the lake with a
total area of 0.7 km
2
. The lake receives drainage waters with anthropogenic materials from agricultural areas through seven drains in addition to the fresh water from
Brembal Canal (El-Sammak and El-Sabrouti 1995). The amount of the drainage
water discharged annually into the lake fluctuates from 1 year to the other (Samaam
et al. 1989).
The north shores of the lake are dominated by saltmarshes and mudflats, while
the southern shore is bordered by an extensive fringe of reed-swamps (mainly
Phragmites and Typha), which currently covers more than 25% of the lake area.
Lake Burullus has abundant submerged vegetation, dominated by Potamogeton,
which is densest in the southern portion of the lake (Baha El-Din 2002).
A.A. El-Gamal