The Gift of the Nile 🌊
Egypt, called "The Gift of the Nile" by ancient historian Herodotus, is one of the world's oldest civilizations with over 5,000 years of recorded history.
Hot Air Balloon over Luxor
Sunrise over the Nile Valley
Key Facts 📊
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| 🏛️ Official Name | Arab Republic of Egypt |
| 🏙️ Capital | Cairo (Africa's largest city) |
| 👥 Population | 103 million (60% under 30) |
| 📐 Land Area | 1 million km² (93% desert) |
| 🏖️ Coastline | 2,900 km (Mediterranean & Red Sea) |
| 🗣️ Language | Arabic (English widely spoken) |
| 💰 Currency | Egyptian Pound (EGP) |
| ⏰ Time Zone | UTC+2 (no daylight saving) |
UNESCO World Heritage Sites 🏛️
Egypt has 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
- Ancient Thebes (Luxor) - Karnak, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings
- Memphis and its Necropolis - Giza Pyramids & Sphinx
- Nubian Monuments - Abu Simbel to Philae
- Historic Cairo - Islamic Cairo, Al-Azhar
- Abu Mena - Ancient Christian holy city
- Saint Catherine Area - Monastery & Mount Sinai
- Wadi Al-Hitan - Valley of the Whales (fossils)
Pyramids of Giza
The Great Pyramids of Giza - last surviving wonder of the ancient world
Ancient Wonders 🏺
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only surviving wonder of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World. It was the tallest man-made structure for 3,800 years!
Mind-Blowing Facts
- 🔺 The Great Pyramid contains 2.3 million stone blocks
- 📏 Aligned to true north with 0.05 degree accuracy
- ⏳ Cleopatra lived closer in time to the Moon landing than to the construction of the Great Pyramid
- 📅 Ancient Egyptians invented the 365-day calendar
- ✍️ Hieroglyphics have over 700 symbols
Geography 🗺️
Regions
- Nile Valley - The fertile heart of Egypt
- Nile Delta - Rich agricultural land
- Western Desert - Including the Siwa Oasis
- Eastern Desert - Mountains and Red Sea coast
- Sinai Peninsula - Beaches and Mount Sinai
Major Cities
- Cairo - 20+ million (Greater Cairo)
- Alexandria - 5 million (Mediterranean coast)
- Giza - 4 million (home of the Pyramids)
- Luxor - "World's greatest open-air museum"
- Aswan - Gateway to Nubia