Saint Katherine
In 1996, Prime Ministerial Decree No. 940 formally declared the St Katherine Protectorate; full protected-area status was given to approximately 4,350km² of largely mountainous terrain in South Sinai. The area includes Gebel Katherina (Mount Saint Katherine) which is the country’s highest summit at 2,641m. and contains a unique assemblage of natural resources, notably high altitude ecosystems with surprisingly diverse fauna and flora and with a significant proportion of endemic species. The protectorate also includes the world-renowned Mount Sinai (Gebel Musa), where Moses has received the Ten Commandments and the Monastery of Saint Katherine, which one of the oldest functional Christian monasteries in the world.
The 641km² area, within the Protectorate core has been inscribed as a World Heritage Site (WHS) by UNESCO; such sites are recognised for their universal and outstanding values, which must be protected for future generations.
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