Helwan
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Helwan
a city in Egypt, on the lower course of the Nile; a suburb of Cairo. Population, 203,500 (1966).
Helwan has a fertilizer plant, and nearby is a metallurgical plant, the first stage of which was built with aid from the USSR. Railroad cars, cement, and silk fabrics are also produced. The Helwan necropolis is located 5 km from the city.
Helwan is a climatic and balneological health resort. The climate is dry (annual precipitation, approximately 40 mm), and summers are hot (average July temperature, 35.5°C). Winter is the mildest season, with temperatures averaging 16.6°C in December, 14.8°C in January, and 16.5°C in February.
Treatment includes therapeutic bathing using the beneficial effects of solar radiation, air, and sand. There are thermal mineral springs (25°–33°C), whose hydrogen sulphide chloride-sulfate-sodium waters are used for bathing, drinking, and inhalation. Patients are treated for disorders of the urinary tract, kidneys, parietal musculature, skin, nervous system, and metabolic system. Facilities include sanatoriums, a balneological treatment center, hotels, and tourist hostels.