Abu Mena

Introduction

Abu Mena (also spelled Abu Mina) was a town, monastery complex and Christian pilgrimage center in Late Antique Egypt, about 45 kilometres southwest of Alexandria. Its remains were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. There are very few standing remains, but the foundations of most major buildings, such as the great basilica, are easily discernible.

Recent agricultural efforts in the area have led to a significant rise in the water table, which has caused a number of the site's buildings to collapse or become unstable. The site was added to the list of World Heritage in Danger in 2001. Authorities were forced to place sand in the bases of buildings that are most endangered in the site.