Bitter Lakes

lakes, Egypt

Also known as: Al-Buḥayrah al-Murrah

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Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

Bitter Lakes are two lakes, the Great Bitter Lake and the Little Bitter Lake, located in northeastern Egypt. These lakes are connected and are traversed by the Suez Canal.1

The term "bitter lakes" can also refer to lakes that contain high concentrations of sodium sulfate, which are characterized by their salty or bitter taste due to the presence of these chemical precipitates.2

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Suez Canal
…Timsah (Buḥayrat al-Timsāḥ), and the Bitter Lakes—Great Bitter Lake (Al-Buḥayrah al-Murrah al-Kubrā) and Little Bitter Lake (Al-Buḥayrah al-Murrah al-Ṣughrā). The Suez Canal is an open cut, without locks, and, though extensive straight lengths occur, there are eight major bends. To the west of the canal is the low-lying delta of…
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…Timsah (Buḥayrat al-Timsāḥ), and the Bitter Lakes—Great Bitter Lake (Al-Buḥayrah al-Murrah al-Kubrā) and Little Bitter Lake (Al-Buḥayrah al-Murrah al-Ṣughrā). The Suez Canal is an open cut, without locks, and, though extensive straight lengths occur, there are eight major bends. To the west of the canal is the low-lying delta of…
Read More