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Situated in north-east Africa, Egypt has one of the oldest civilizations of the world which can be traced back to 5000BC. Also known as the Gift of Nile, Egypt became an independent monarchy in 1922 and a republic in 1953.
Major portion of the country is covered with deserts while the river Nile unequally divides the whole country into two parts. Major deserts include the Libyan Desert (also known as the Western Desert) in the west, a part of the Sahara, and the Arabian Desert (also called the Eastern Desert), which borders the Red Sea and the Gulf of Suez, in the east. Less than one-tenth of the land area of Egypt is settled or under cultivation. This territory consists of the valley and delta of the Nile, a number of desert oases, and land along the Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean with the Gulf of Suez, a part of the Red Sea.
Most of the country lies in Africa. However, the Sinai Peninsula which lies in the easternmost portion of Egypt is considered to be a part of Asia. This peninsula forms the only land bridge between the two continents. Egypt is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the north; on the east by the Gaza Strip, Israel, and the Red Sea; on the south by Sudan; and on the west by Libya.
Flag of Egypt
The flag of Egypt has three equal horizontal bands of red, white, and black. In the center of the white band, the national emblem (a shield superimposed on a golden eagle facing the hoist side above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) is present.
Climate of Egypt
The climate of Egypt is characterized by a hot season from May to September and a cool season from November to March. However, the northern winds are a welcome respite and do a good job of keeping the temperatures slightly moderated. In the coastal regions, average annual temperatures vary from a maximum of 37° C to a minimum of 14° C. The most humid area is along the Mediterranean coast, where the average annual rainfall is about 200 mm. Rainfall decreases rapidly towards the south; Cairo receives on average only 25 mm of rain a year, and in many desert locations it may rain only once in several years.
Flora And Fauna of Egypt
The most common tree found in Egypt is that of the date palm. Others trees include the sycamore, tamarisk, acacia, carob, the cypress, elm, eucalyptus, mimosa, and myrtle, as well as various types of other fruit trees. As Egypt has rich alluvial soils, especially in the delta, fruit like grapes, variety of vegetables, and flowers such as the lotus, jasmine, and rose are found in fairly reasonable quantities.
The animals of Egypt include Gazelles, desert fox, hyena, jackal, wild ass, boar, and jerboa. Reptiles include lizards and several kinds of poisonous snakes, like the asp and the horned viper. The country also has numerous species of birds, especially in the Nile Delta and Nile Valley. Presently, the country has 153 known species of birds, including the sunbird, golden oriole, egret, hoopoe, plover, pelican, flamingo, heron, stork, quail, and snipe. Birds of prey found in Egypt include eagles, falcons, vultures, owls, kites, and hawks.
People of Egypt
The Nile Valley, the Nile Delta, the Suez Canal region, and the northern coastal region of the Sinai Peninsula are the areas which are mainly inhabited. Besides this, small groups of people also live in the oases of the Libyan Desert and in the oil-drilling and mining towns of the Arabian Desert. Most Egyptians are descendants of the ancient Egyptians, a race who had originated in northeastern Africa. Besides this, a small group of nomadic Bedouins also exist in Egypt. The ancestors of the Egyptians were made up of many races and ethnic groups, but today, the population is relatively uniform in terms of language and religion.
Arts, Culture and Music of Egypt
Egypt is heavily into music and dance. The country's belly- dance has gained recognition across the world. Apart from this, specific dance troupes specialize in modern adaptations of folk dances. As far as music is concerned, many eminent singers have made a name for themselves...for instance, Sayyid Darwish who composed operas, and popular songs, was the leading figure in Egyptian music in the early 20th century. Other singers include Umm Kulthum and Layla Murad, Muhammad Abd 'al-Wahhab, and Abd al-Halim Hafiz.
Economy of Egypt
Despite the fact that Egypt had only 5 percent of fertile soil, the economy was mainly based on farming. The country was an exporter of cereals for a long time and it is in the 19th century that it started concentrating on the growth of cotton. Even today, cotton is considered to be an important cash crop. In the 1930s, the country began to set up industries and in the 1960s, many of the industries were brought under the control of the government. In the late 20th century, revenue-generating sources included tourism, oil production, and remittances from the 3 million Egyptians working in the Persian Gulf states. In 2001, the gross domestic product (GDP) of Egypt was recorded at $98.5 billion.
Travel Destinations of Egypt
Cairo, the capital of Egypt is full of life and rhythm. It has incredible range of places of interest, hotels, restaurants, entertainment centers, and shopping areas. You can try famous street markets like Wekala al-Balaq for fabrics, Tentmakers Bazaar for appliqué-work, Mohammed Ali Street for musical and several other places.The city of Luxor distinguished as world's greatest open-air museum in Upper Egypt welcomes thousands of tourists every year. It houses few of the most notable wonders of the country like 'Valley of the Kings', 'Valley of the Queens', 'Medinet Habu', 'The Ramesseum', and 'Tombs of the Nobles'. Aswan one of the driest inhabited places in the world, standing on the east bank of river Nile is a busy tourist center. You can have an experience of lifetime at sailboats, floating restaurants, Elephantine and Kitchener Islands. Hurghada, on the Red Sea is delightful tourist center. It has some notable places of interest near it like Sharm El Naga and El Gouna. Sharm el-Sheikh, one of the most accessible and developed tourist resort communities on the Sinai Peninsula is known for its natural beauty. This city of peace is suffused with the luxury of five-star hotels, water sports, shopping and entertainment. These six enchanting destinations cover ninety five percent of the ancient monumental legacy of Egypt. Come and discover these picturesque destinations for yourself and we bet the experience will be worthwhile.
