Page "Qattara Depression" Paragraph 22

The large size of the Qattara Depression and the fact that it falls to a depth of 133 m below mean sea level has led to several proposals to create a massive hydroelectric project in northern Egypt rivalling the Aswan High Dam.

This project is known as the Qattara Depression Project.

The proposals call for a large canal or tunnel being excavated from the Qattara due north of depending on the route chosen to the Mediterranean Sea to bring seawater into the area.

Or otherwise a 320 kilometre ( 200 mile ) pipeline north-east to the freshwater Nile River at Rosetta.

Water would flow into a series of hydro-electric penstocks which would generate electricity by releasing the water at 60 m below sea level.

Because the Qattara Depression is in a very hot dry region with very little cloud cover the water released at the level would spread out from the release point across the basin and evaporate from solar influx.

Because of the evaporation more water can flow into the depression thus forming a constant source of energy.

Eventually this would result in a hyper-saline lake or a salt pan as the water evaporates and leaves the salt it contains behind.