Ain Sukhna

Ain Sukhna
Country	Egypt
Governorate	Suez Governorate
Municipality
Time zone	EST (UTC+2)

Ain Sukhna, (Arabic: العين السخنة‎ el-ʿĒn el-Soḵna  Egyptian Arabic pronunciation: [elˈʕeːn esˈsoxnæ], "the Hot Eye") is a town in Suez Governorate, Egypt, lying on the western shore of the Red Sea's Gulf of Suez. It is situated 55 km south of Suez and approximately 120 km east of Cairo.

Etymology

The town's name is from the Arabic word for a hot spring, referring to the sulfur spring in the nearby Gabal Ataka, the highest peak in the Eastern Desert.

Economy

Ain Sohkna's economy is chiefly dependent on tourism, with hydrocarbon extraction and refining and industry also playing a role.

Ain Sukhna beach, Suez - Mollusca collection

Ain Sukhna beach, Suez - Mollusca collection

Industry and natural resources

Ain Sokhna plays host to economically-significant reserves of petroleum and natural gas, which are extracted in the area. The region additionally has sugar refineries and other heavy industry.

Tourism

Ain Sokhna's location fairly near to Cairo has made it a major destination for Cairene holidaymakers desiring to get out of the capital's notorious summer heat. With a motorway constructed in the late 2000s, Ain Sokhna is little more than an hour outside of Cairo and is thus chiefly a weekend destination, with longer holidays frequently taken on the Alexandria or the western part of the Northern Coast instead. It is one of the few resorts on Egypt's Red Sea Riviera chiefly occupied by Egyptians; most other resorts are occupied by European tourists.

Reference & External links

• Ain Sokhna images Gallery
• Tour Egypt Website