Lake Qarun near Cairo in Egypt faces a serious pollution crisis. The lake, once famous for its fish, now smells rotten and shows very little fishing activity. Boats sit idle and fish restaurants along the shore are mostly closed. Untreated sewage drains into the lake through channels in nearby villages, worsening the smell and killing fish. A fisherman said, “The smell is unbearable because of pollution.” Recently, the government showed pictures of flamingos returning to the lake and called this a sign of recovery. But experts and locals say the situation is far from fixed. The environment ministry admits more flamingos arrived but adds they never fully left before. Wildlife expert Khaled el-Noubi said flamingos can stop at even polluted water bodies, so their presence does not prove lake health. Lake Qarun was made a natural reserve in 1989 but has lost most fish due to pollution, overfishing, and a parasite. Fish caught dropped from 2,000 tonnes in 1981 to just 5 tonnes in 2022. Many fishermen have left to find jobs elsewhere. Pollution comes from agricultural drainage and untreated industrial and sewage waste, especially from the nearby Kom Oshim industrial complex. The lake’s salt levels have risen, and the lakebed is covered with polluted materials. The government started a restoration project in 2018, including dredging canals and building sewage treatment plants. A 300 million euro loan helps fund the efforts. The Kom Oshim plant is being upgraded to stop untreated waste release, expected by late 2026. New fish species like shrimp and sole have been introduced to improve stocks. However, the parasite problem remains, and some fish species won’t return. Fishing at the lake officially reopened recently, but very few fishermen are active. Local fisherman Yasser Eid, who grew up fishing here, says, “There are no fish. The lake is still dead.” Many families rely on other lakes for work. The government urges patience as conditions and fishing methods change, but locals wait for real recovery and clean water to return. Lake Qarun’s crisis reflects a bigger problem in Egypt’s northern lakes, all suffering pollution and shrinking fish numbers despite restoration claims by officials.