Abstract
The Qattara Depression, in the Western Desert of Egypt, is the largest natural depression in the Libyan Desert of North Africa. It is, in part at least, the base level of the great Nubian Sandstone aquifer system, which underlies the Western Desert of Egypt. Due to the expected future shortage in power, the Egyptian Government is currently studying the feasibility of using the Qattara Depression as a hydrosolar power plant. The project depends on the conveyance of sea water from the Mediterranean to the eastern end of the Qattara Depression. The lowest point in the depression is at 133 m below sea level and any future permanent salt-water lake will be at 60 m below sea level. The present paper deals with the impact of a future Qattara salt-water lake on the present hydro-dynamic equilibrium of the Nubian Sandstone aquifer system. The present paper deals also with the results of a digital groundwater model made to assist in the present study.