what is Matrouh Governorate

overview:

The interior of the Matrouh Governorate is part of Egypt's Western Desert, including the Siwa Oasis, in antiquity known for its shrine to Amun.

In the center of the Governorate is the Qattara Depression, descending to 133 metres below sea level.

Marsa Matrouh is the ancient Koinē Greek: Παραιτόνιον Paraitónion, Latin Paraetonium. It was the westernmost city of the Ptolemaic

Kingdom in the Hellenistic period. The city of Apis, some 18 km to the west of Paraetonium, marked the boundary to Libycus nome, ,

and the Halfaya Pass (at Sallum) marked the boundary to Marmarica proper. Matrouh Governorate contains many

historical sites related to World War II. The latter include el Alamein, which comprises cemeteries of fallen soldiers

from Axis and Allied forces.An estimated 16 million mines,[6] planted by the Europeans during the world wars and called

"devil's gardens", still hinder development of most of the governorate, and are constantly being removed. The province has been

described as "religiously conservative"

the history of matrouh:

Mersa Matruh started as a small fishing town during Ancient Egyptian times and the reign of Alexander The Great and was named Amunia.

There are ruins of a temple for Ramesses II (1200 BC). The city became known as Paraitonion in the Ptolemaic era.

Ovid wrote that its goddess is Isis.[2] After Egypt came under Roman rule, the town became an important harbor for trade and shipping goods

and crops to Rome.

After the Arabic conquest, the city's name changed to Al-Baretun. The city also bore other names from at least the beginning of

20th century – Berek Marsa, Port Mhaddra (Mithr) and Port Bardiah.[3] During World War II, the British Army's Baggush Box was located

to the east. Starting with the completion of an extension from the previous railhead at Fuka in February 1936,[4] Mersa Matruh was the terminus

for a single-track railway, which passed through El Alamein.

Mersa Matruh served as a vital British military base during World War II and was a major objective of Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps,

which captured it during the Battle of Mersa Matruh .