Wadi Natrun

Introducing Wadi Natrun

Wadi Natrun, about 100km northwest of Cairo, was of great importance to ancient Egyptians, for this was where they found natron, a substance that was crucial to the mummification process. Natron comes from large deposits of sodium carbonate that are left when the valley’s salt lakes dry up every summer.

Today, natron is used on a larger scale by the chemical industry, though Wadi Natrun is primarily known for its historic Coptic Christian monasteries. Besides their solitude and serenity, the monasteries are worth visiting for the Coptic art they contain, particularly at Deir el-Sourian.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009