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ABout Egypt General Information Tours And Travel Egyptian Transport
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adminafrica on 25 May, 2008 02:46:00
 
EGYPT:
Officially known as the Arab Republic of Egypt, it is the most populous Nation
in the Arab world and basically a desert nation. Being a desert Nation, Egypt's
natural resource base is extremely limited. Egypt's most notable geographical
feature is the Nile River, and almost 99 percent of Egypt's population lives in
the Nile River valley and the fertile Nile Delta, north of the capital, Cairo.
The Nile enters Egypt from the Sudan and flows north for about 1545 km (about
960 m) to the Mediterranean Sea. For its entire length, from the southern
border to Cairo, the Nile flows through a narrow valley lined by cliffs. Lake
Nasser, the world's largest man-made reservoir and formed by the Aswan high
dam, extends south across the Sudan border. The lake is about 480 km (about 300
m) long and is about 16 km (10 m) across at its widest point. About two-thirds
of the lake lies in Eg
More than 90 percent of the country consists of desert areas: In the west, the
Libyan Desert, a part of the Sahara Desert which is also known as the Western
Desert. The Libyan Desert includes a vast sandy expanse called the Great  Sand
Sea. Located here are several depressions with elevations below sea level,
including the Qattara Depression, which has an area of about 18,000 sq km
(about 7000 sq m) and reaches a depth of 133 m (436 ft) below sea level, the
lowest point in Africa. Also found here are the oases of Siwa, Kharga, Baharia
and Dakhla.
In the east the Arabian Desert, also called the Eastern Desert (which borders
the Red Sea and the Gulf of Suez). Much of the Arabian Desert occupies a
plateau that rises gradually east from the Nile Valley to elevations of about
600 m (about 2000 ft) in the east and is broken along the Red Sea coast by
jagged peaks as high as about 2100 m (about 7000 ft) above sea level.
In the extreme south, along the border with Sudan, is the Nubian Desert, an
extensive region of dunes and sandy plains.
The Sinai Peninsula consists of sandy desert in the north and rugged mountains
in the south, with summits looming more than about 2100 m (about 7000 ft) above
the Red Sea. Mount Catherine (Jabal Katrìnah - 2637 m/8652 ft), the highest
elevation in Egypt, is in the Sinai Peninsula, as is Mount Sinai (Jabal Mosa),
where, according to the Old Testament, Moses received the Ten Commandments.
South of a point near the town of Idfu, the Nile Valley is rarely more than 3
km (2 m) wide. From Idfu to Cairo, the valley is about 23 km (about 14 m) in
width, with most of the arable portion on the western side. In the vicinity of
Cairo the valley merges with the delta, a fan-shaped plain, the perimeter of
which occupies about 250 km (about 155 m) of the Mediterranean coastline. Silt
deposited by the Rosetta (Rashid), Damietta (Dumyat), and other distributaries
has made the delta the most fertile region in the country. However, the Aswan
High Dam has reduced the flow of the Nile, causing the salty waters of the
Mediterranean to erode land along the coast near the Nile.
A series of four shallow, brackish lakes extends along the seaward extremity of
the delta. Another larger lake, Birkat Qarun, is situated inland in the desert
north of the town of Al   Fayoum.
Geographically and traditionally, the Nile Valley is divided into two regions,
Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt, the former consisting of the delta area and the
latter comprising the valley south of Cairo.
LOCATION:
Officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, a country in north-eastern Africa
bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Israel and the Red Sea to the
east, Sudan to the south, and Libya to the west. The total land boundary length
is 2,665 km (1,656 mi) and its total coastline is 2,450 km (1,522 mi). Egypt's
capital city, Cairo, is located in the northeastern part of the country. Egypt
is basically a desert nation; only four percent of the country's total land
area of 1 million km2 is arable. Egypt’s most notable geographical feature is
the Nile River, and almost 99 percent of Egypt's population lives in the Nile
River valley and the fertile Nile Delta, north of the capital, Cairo.
AREA:
The total land boundary length is 2,665 km (1,656 mi) and its total coastline
is 2,450 km (1,522 mi). Egypt's capital city, Cairo, is located in the
northeastern part of the country.
CAPITAL :( CAIRO)
Cairo, the capital and largest city, is the most modern in the Middle East and
Africa. A cosmopolitan city that blends the charm of the east with a
Mediterranean flavor and which accommodates between 15 and 17 million people.
It is a melting pot where antiquities of pharaonic dynasties, Graeco- Roman
civilization, Christian and Islamic landmarks co-exist.
It is a dynamic city proud of its warm and friendly people known for their
traditional hospitality. Egypt’s reputation as one of Africa’s friendliest
countries stems partly from the tradition of hospitality common to its cultural
populace, and partly from the remarkable low level of crime. Cairo is an amazing
city full of life and movement, and it operates that way almost 24 hours every
day, with the noisy honking of horns, children playing in the streets and
merchants selling their wears and services.
Cairo, provides great and unique culture, including art galleries and music
halls, such as the Cairo Opera House, as well it should, being one of the
largest cities in the world. It also provides some of the grandest
accommodations and restaurants in the world, such as the Four Seasons and the
Cairo Marriott.
Cairo is located on the banks and islands of the Nile River in the north of
Egypt, immediately south of the point where the river leaves its desert-bound
valley and breaks into two branches into the low-lying Nile Delta region. The
oldest part of the city is somewhat east of the river. There, the city
gradually spreads west, engulfing the agricultural lands next to the Nile.
These western areas, built on the model of Paris by Ismail the Magnificent in
the mid-19th century, are marked by wide boulevards, public gardens, and open
spaces. The older eastern section of the city is very different: having grown
up haphazardly over the centuries it is filled with small lanes and crowded
tenements.
West of Giza, in the desert, is part of the ancient necropolis of Memphis on
the Giza plateau, with its three large pyramids, including the Great Pyramid of
Giza Approximately 11 miles (18 km) to the south of modern Cairo is the site of
the ancient Egyptian city of Memphis. These cities were Cairo's ancient
predecessors, when Cairo was still in this approximate geographical location.
Cairo offers an incredible selection of shopping, leisure and nightlife
activities. In this case, Shopping ranges from the famous Khan el- Khalili
souk, (or bazaar) largely unchanged since the 14th century, to modern
air-conditioned centers displaying the latest fashions. All the bounty of the
East can be here. Particularly good buys are spices, perfumes, gold, silver,
carpets, brass and copperware, leatherwork, glass, ceramics and mashrabiya. Try
some of the famous street markets, like Wekala al-Balaq, for fabrics, including
Egyptian cotton, the Tentmakers Bazaar for appliqué-work, Mohammed Ali Street
for musical instruments and, although you probably won't want to buy, the Camel
Market makes a fascinating trip. This is, and has been for over a thousand
years, truly a shopper's paradise.
POPULATION:
Egypt is one of the most populated countries not only in the African continent
but also in the Middle East and in the Arab world. According to the 2006 census
conducted by government's statistics agency, the population of Egypt has sprung
up to 72.6 million with a growth rate of 2.0 percent each year in the past
decade.
Majority of the population in Egypt is concentrated on the fertile banks of
river Nile, especially in Alexandria and Cairo, within the Delta and the Suez
Canal. Thus there is unequal distribution of population in the various parts of
the country. Cairo, the capital of Egypt has the highest population density
(2136.1 person per sq km against 63.7 person per sq km).
The biggest ethnic group in Egypt are the Egyptians, comprising the bulk of the
population. Other minor ethnic groups include the Bedouin Arab clans inhabiting
the Sinai Peninsula and the eastern deserts, the Berber-speaking Siwis, the
ancient communities of the Nubians and Bejas and a group of Dom tribes. Apart
from this, Egypt is also home to a large number of asylum seekers, Sudanese and
Palestinian refugees.
LANGUAGE:
The official language is Arabic, but English is widely spoken in commerce and
government.
RELIGION:
Islam is the official religion, and about 90 percent of all Egyptians are
Muslims, most of them members of the Sunni sect. According to official Egyptian
estimates, the Coptic Orthodox church, a Christian denomination, has no more
than 3 million adherents and constitutes the largest religious minority; Copts
themselves claim some 7 million members. An estimated 1 million people belong
to the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Armenian, and various Protestant
churches. The country has a very small Jewish community.
CURRENCY:
The unit of currency is the Egyptian pound. The Egyptian pound is written E£,
and is divided into 100 piastres.
EGYPT TIME DIFFERENCE:
GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 in summer).
GETTING AROUND CAIRO
Getting to and from the International Airport
Although arriving in Cairo can be a little overwhelming, it isn't a dangerous
place. You may get ripped off but violent crime is extremely rare. You
shouldn’t  worry  much about spending your first night in a hotel recommended
by your taxi-driver that on hindsight cost you 5 times it should have.
A reasonable taxi fare from the airport to the center of town and vice versa is
around 25 Egyptian Pounds.
Buses and mini-buses depart both terminals and end up in the center of town at
Midan Tahrir, the transport hub of Cairo. They cost less than 1 Egyptian Pound.
Taxi:
There are different types of taxis in Cairo and the choice lies in the hands of
the visitor. But one should note that there are more little black and white
taxis in Cairo than minarets and that's saying something. You can hail a cab
from any corner of any street, so getting one isn't a problem. Getting a fair
price and emerging at your destination with nerves intact is another story (the
same can be said for cabs in New York). A couple of tips to avoid getting
annoyed:
*   The meters don't work so  you should agree on the price before you get in
to the cab.
*   Single men sit in the front, single women in the back.
*   It is not unusual to pick up extra passengers along the way, so don't be
alarmed if this happens.
*   Keep small notes so you can pay the exact amount when you get out of the
cab
*   Hold on and thank the stars you don't have to drive
Metro:
This is the only metro system in Africa and it’s a pleasure to ride. The
first carriage is for women only, it runs on time, it runs until midnight and
it's cheap. Buy your tickets at the station and hold on to them until you exit
at your destination station.
Bus:
Buses and mini-buses are a good option to get around the city if you speak and
read Arabic and are on a tight budget. Tickets can be bought on board and be
prepared to get up close and personal with your fellow passengers. Buses and
mini-buses depart both terminals and end up in the center of town at Midan
Tahrir, the transport hub of Cairo. They cost less than 1 Egyptian Pound.
Where to Stay:
Cairo is a city with good accommodation built in unique styles. These range
from luxurious hotels to cheap hotels for those on a budget. These can be found
in central Cairo between Midan Tahrir and the train station.
Like every major world city, Cairo has plenty of accommodation options. Perhaps
the best way to narrow down your choices is to decide if you would like a hotel
near the Pyramids, near the airport (Heliopolis), in the center of town or in
some of the finer, quieter neighborhoods like zamalek.