The Egyptian Association for Tourism and Archaeological Development announced that the Karnak Temples will witness rare solar phenomena during the summer solstice, highlighted by the noon sun aligning almost vertically over the complex to mark the official start of summer.
Additionally, the Temple of Amun at Karnak will feature a sunset alignment, where the solstice sun sets directly through its corridors.
To capitalize on the growing global trend of archaeo-astronomy tourism, Ayman Abu Zeid, head of the association, emphasized the need for enhanced international promotion, suggesting that Karnak’s unique summer solar events be prominently featured at global tourism exhibitions.
Furthermore, he proposed extending the temple’s daily operating hours until 7:00 PM rather than the current 6:00 PM closing time, a measure that would allow visitors to experience the solstice sunset firsthand while exploring the archaeological site during cooler evening hours.
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