HELOUAN

HELOUAN (Helouan), one of the most significant climatic and balneological resorts in Egypt (from the group: Helouan, Assuan, Khartoum), located 23 km south of Cairo and 3 km east of the Nile. It is situated in the desert (57 m above sea level), at the foot of the surrounding mountains to the north and east, which reach up to 300 m in height. The town has 8,000 inhabitants. On the border with the desert, on the outskirts of the town, there is a bathing establishment and luxurious hotels. The climate is dry, desert-like. The average temperature of the season (from November to April) is 4-16.8°C (minimum +8°C), in January +13°C. Humidity ranges from 31 to 59%, annual precipitation is 23 mm (December - 4.7 mm, January - 7 mm, February - 8.9 mm). From April to October there is no precipitation. 12 saline-sulfur springs, of which 7 are captured, temperature 25-33°C, hydrogen sulfide 59 cubic cm per liter, NaCl - 5.06, KCl - 0.29, CaCO₃ - 0.82, MgSO₄ - 0.5; the most powerful source yields 620 cubic meters per day. Season - winter, from November to March, attendance is large (patients come from Europe). Other therapeutic means: fresh, steam, sun, and air baths, electrotherapy, Zander gymnastics, inhalation room. Well-equipped sanatoriums and pensions. Many entertainments. Indications: Helouan enjoys world fame as a climatic resort for treating kidney and urinary tract diseases (mainly nephritis, nephrosis, tuberculosis). In addition, Helouan is used as a climatic and balneological resort for treating rheumatism, diseases of the throat and lungs, metabolic disorders (gout, diabetes), nervous diseases, skin diseases, and syphilis.