Location: Zaranik Protected Area is located at the eastern end of Lake Bardawil on the Mediterranean coast of Sinai. The Protected Area is bordered from the north by the Mediterranean, from the south by the main Qantara - El Arish road, from the east by tourist development areas, and from the west by Lake Bardawil.
Area: Covers about 250 Km2 (68% water surface and 32% sand dunes)
Altitude: 0-30 meters above sea level.
Type: Wetland Site of International Importance
Year of establishment: 1985
Objective: Protecting the migratory birds
Management: Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency
Flora:
17 species have been recorded on foreshore and islands mainly: Halocnemon, Strobilaceum, Arthrocnemon glaucum, Juncus subulatus, Zygophyllom album, Nitraria retusa, Stipagrostis scoparia: and Ruppia: maritime.
Fauna:
244 species of birds have been recorded at Bardaweel lagoon. Hundreds of thousand migratory birds pass through during Autumn, including Greater flamingos Phoenicopterus ruber: (13100), white pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus: (5620), little bittern Lxobrychus minuts: (2564), night herns Nycticorax nyticorox: (5487), gargany Anas querquedula: (221616), avocet Recurvirostra avosetta: (6828), little slint Calidris minuta: (15503), little tern Sterna albifrons: (12433), white winged black tern Chlidonias leucopterus: (18436), 24 species of predatory birds have been recorded in spring time (more than 130000) mainly black kite Milvus migrans, griffon vultore Gyps fulvus, short toed eagle Citraetus gallicus, buzzard Buteo buteo, long legged buzzard Buteo rufinus, steppe eagle Aquila mipalensis, bouted eagle Hieaaetus pennatus, golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos, kestrel Falco tinnumclus. There are also 18 species of reptiles, including two that are endangered, green turtle Celonia mydas and loggerhead turtle Caretta .