Egypt is one of the top tourism destinations in Africa. From Pyramids to the Valley of the Kings, the Arab Republic of Egypt oozes history. If you are considering traveling to Egypt, you should know the following about the country. Every year there are a large number of tourists who visit the country. Many of them visit during the favorable months from mid-October to May, when the weather is not as hot, to view its many beautiful sites.
The land of the Pharaohs. The child of the Nile. Call it by any name but the mystic land never ends to attract the greatest people to it. It’s the country, which is home to the oldest civilization of the world. The magnanimity and the grandeur of the Egyptian civilization is what make it the traveler’s paradise. The popularity of the place is mainly because of the great pyramids at Giza. These architectural and construction wonders have made a firm footing in the list of the Seven Wonders of the World. And that is not all. The pyramids are present at other places too. The famous statue of the Sphinx is also there in Giza. The fertility of the Nile Basin is the main reason why the greatest civilization could thrive there.
The capital city of Cairo is also an international hub now. The city is a smooth blend of culture and modernization. The city has the greatest business centers and the best infrastructure in the country. Ancient museums and art galleries adorn this city. The city holds the distinction of being the oldest in the world. The best way to travel around the city is on foot. This gives the inquisitive tourist ample time to see each structure. But for the people wit less time, transportation is easy in the city. Many mosques are there and they give an impression of the grandeur of architecture.
The great desert surrounds the country and the most important sources of life in the desert are the oases. These are the fertile lands in the middle of the desert, which are used for agriculture and cultivation. They are the cradles of life in the very challenging weathers of the desert. The Dakhla, the Siwa are some of the oases locations where the Egyptian people cultivate. The nomads of the desert find a resting place in the oases. The Foyum is a large oasis and is the source of salt. Many tourists from Islamic and non-islamic countries come to visit the country.
Mount Sinai is one of the sacred spots of the country. It was the place where Moses gave the famous TEN COMMANDMENTS to his disciples and explained them the message of the God. The place is known for its religious importance. The place is lined by the Red Sea, which houses very beautiful coral reef, and it offers fantastic geographic beauty. Apart from the religious pursuits the city also offers the best shopping hubs and showrooms. The city is never short of new things to show. But the spots of religious and historical importance remain the most visited. There are many water parks that offer joy rides and other entertainment offers. The cities of Egypt are always bustling with activity and the bird watchers can find the natural beauties around Lake Nasser. The country fulfills all the expectations of the visitors completely. The most important point remains the preservation of the cultural heritage and that had to in the hands of the residents.
Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Egypt include;
- Egyptian Antiquities Museum, Cairo, Egypt
- Pyramids of Giza, Giza, Egypt
- Khan Al-Khalili, Cairo, Egypt
- Temple of Karnak, Luxor, Nile River Valley, Egypt
- Great Sphinx, Giza, Egypt
- Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Nile River Valley, Egypt
- Citadel (Al-Qalaa), Cairo, Egypt
- Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu), Giza, Egypt
- Abu Simbel, Aswan, Nile River Valley, Egypt
- Saqqara (Sakkara), Cairo, Egypt
About Egypt
The Arab Republic of Egypt, commonly known as Egypt, is a Republic in North Africa. “”Egypt”” came via the Latin word Aegyptus derived from ancient Greek, which means ‘the name of a temple of the God Ptah at Memphis.’ Cairo is the capital of Egypt and is known as the land for learning, culture and commerce.
Geographically, Egypt borders the Mediterranean Sea and is located between Libya and the Gaza Strip. To the north of Sudan is the Red Sea inclusive of what is known as the Asian Sinai Peninsula. The total area occupied by Egypt is 1,020,000 km². The coastline of Egypt stretches approximately 2,450 km. The Egyptian terrain is a vast desert plateau, interrupted by the Nile valley and the delta.
The climate in Egypt is hot and dry due to its proximity to the equator. Winters are moderate. The Sahara desert is the world’s largest desert and is located in Egypt, as well as the Libya desert. These deserts were referred to as the “red land” in ancient Egypt. Even today, these areas are sparsely populated. Egypt has a population of approximately 77 million people. Islam is the religion practiced by majority of the people, with a small number of people that follow Christianity. Arabic is the language used widely by the Egyptian people. The majority of Egyptians are involved in agriculture and settlements can be seen along the Nile river. About half of the population lives in the urban areas.
Egypt is famous for its ancient architecture and culture. It boasts of some of the world’s most stunning ancient monuments, including the Giza Pyramids, the Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings. Another modern attraction in Egypt is the Opera house, which is the only one in the Arab world.
Egypt has plenty of land, but much of it is sparsely inhabited. This leads to a situation where the vast majority lives within relatively compact urban places. As the most populous Arab nation, nearly all of people live along the Nile River, particularly in Cairo and Alexandria. Cairo in particular is one of the world’s most densely populated cities with a whopping 3,800 people per square mile and roughly 18 million in the extended city. Traffic jams are legendary to say the least.
Travelers to Egypt are almost always going to see the pyramids and various archeological remains of the Pharaohs. Just so you can sound like you know what you are talking about, here is a very brief history on the rule of the Pharaohs.
Around 3,100 BC, Mena united Egypt and became the first Pharaoh. 30 dynasties would follow and are categorized as the Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom and New Empire. In 525 BC, the last Pharaoh was overthrown by the invading Persians. The pyramids of Giza were built during the fourth dynasty. The Great Pyramid is the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu. The Valley of Kings you will visit is only partially an accurate representation. More than a few of the sites were actually moved to higher elevations to save them from flooding caused when the Nasser Dam went into operation.
As for modern times, Egypt covers an area of roughly 386,000 square miles. The capital is Cairo with a population between 16 and 18 million people. The climate is universally dry and hot. Life is sustained almost totally by the Nile.
The people of Egypt are known as “Egyptians.” The total population is over 77 million and growing at a rate of 1.78 percent per year. 94 percent claim to be Muslim. Arabic is the official language although English and French are also spoken. 57 percent of the people are literate and life expectancy is 71 years of age.
As this overview shows, the country is unique in that it is almost totally reliant upon the Nile River. Without the Nile, Egypt would be bereft of its heritage and modern state. Fortunately, it has learned to ride herd on the longest river in the world.