The Emerald Mines, Marsa Alam is an important archaeological site in Egypt. Marsa Alam is a developing seaside resort by the Red Sea. It has become a popular destination of divers and tourists and is one of the main Marsa Alam Tourist Attractions. For years it has been a fishing village but has rapidly grown into a holiday resort after the opening of the international airport. The town is 290 kilometers south of Cairo and is at the crossroads of the road from Edfu to the west and the road along the Red Sea coast. The Emerald Mines, Marsa Alam is an ancient Egyptian site.
Emeralds were highly valued to the ancient Egyptians as it was the symbol of eternity and power. So when emerald was discovered here the ancient Egyptians mined the area extensively. The emerald is one of the oldest gemstones and was used in jewelry. The Emerald Mines in Marsa Alam are located in the desert between Marsa Alam and the Nile Valley. The mines have been identified as the legendary Cleopatra Mines or Mons Smaragdus (Emerald Mountains).
Some of the places where emerald was mined extensively are Wadi Gimal, Wadi Sikeit, Wadi Nuqrus and Gebel Zabara. These mines were used from the Ptolemic and Roman peered. During the later centuries the Marsa Alam Emerald Mines were still used till the Spaniards discovered emeralds in Columbia in 1545 and was later deserted. You can see a number of ruins near around the Emerald Mines, Marsa Alam. The structures are well preserved and still have mine shafts. The Zabara and Sikeit mining settlement ruins can still be seen as well as some temple structures.
For further reference on Emerald Mines, Marsa Alam, kindly check travel.mapsofworld.com.
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