Lake Manzala Lake

Address: Lake Manzala (Birket al-Menzala), northeastern Nile Delta, Port Said Governorate, Egypt

Lake Manzala is a large brackish lake on the northern edge of Egypt’s Nile Delta, within the coastal zone of the Mediterranean. It is a shallow lagoon historically used for fishing and reed harvesting.

The lake’s shallow waters support local fisheries and coastal wetlands rather than tourism infrastructure; shoreline villages and fishing communities use the lake for livelihoods.

Manzala’s extent and character have changed over the 20th century due to land reclamation, drainage projects and evolving coastal management practices that have altered its shoreline and ecological balance.

Lake Manzala lies along Egypt’s Mediterranean coast in the northeastern Nile Delta region, within the Port Said Governorate area, east of the main Delta channels and near coastal towns.

• Economic use: A large brackish lagoon on the Nile Delta coastline that has been important for local fishing and reed harvesting for generations.

Manzala lies between Port Said and Damietta along the Mediterranean coast of the Nile Delta. Road access is via the coastal highway; local fishing villages provide access points for boats. Port Said is the nearest major urban center with transport links.

• Boat access is common-arrange a guide from Port Said or local fishing communities to navigate the reedbeds and shallow channels.
• Be prepared for strong winds and rapidly changing weather; the lake is shallow and can be choppy.
• Combine with a trip to the Suez Canal area or Port Said's waterfront; local guides may also show salt-harvesting and birding sites.