Egypt

Abu Simbel Airport

The Abu Simbel temples are two massive rock temples in Abu Simbel, a village in Nubia, southern Egypt, near the border with Sudan. They are located on the western bank of Lake Nasser, about 290 km southwest of Aswan. The temples were originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th century BCE, as a symbol of his power and a monument to himself and his queen, Nefertari.

The two temples, known as the Great Temple and the Temple of Nefertari, are considered masterpieces of ancient Egyptian architecture and engineering. The Great Temple is dedicated to the gods Amun, Ra-Harakhty, and Ptah, and features four massive 20 meter tall statues of Ramses II at the entrance. The Temple of Nefertari is dedicated to the goddess Hathor and is smaller in size, but no less impressive in its details and artwork.

In the 1960s, the temples were relocated to their current location to avoid their inundation by the rising waters of Lake Nasser, the result of the construction of the Aswan High Dam. The relocation involved cutting the temples into large blocks, moving them to higher ground, and reassembling them. Today, the Abu Simbel temples are a popular tourist destination and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Abu Simbel Airport

Location Details

Airport Codes

External Links

Related Locations

Country

Explore Near Abu Simbel Airport

Nearby Attractions & Places to Visit

Account

Explore

Discover

Support

Legal