Discover Egypt

Egypt is one of the most populous nations in Africa, with roughly 80 million inhabitants and a land area that makes it one of the biggest on the continent. Egypt’s location is very strategic and ideal. It has ready access to two major bodies of water: the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Moreover, Egypt is also drained by the Nile River from the south, irrigating the lands along the riverbanks and making these areas very suitable for cultivation and agriculture. Egypt is bordered by Libya to the west, Israel to the east, and Sudan to the South. The world’s busiest man-made waterway has a foothold on Egypt as well. The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, making the voyage from Europe to Asia and vice versa significantly shorter than rounding the entire African continent, as was the practice on those days before the Suez Canal was opened. Because of its proximity to Europe and the fact that it was a former British colony, Egypt is significantly influenced by European culture, particularly in customs and architecture. On the other hand, Egyptians identify themselves with their Arabic neighbors to the east, sharing principles and religion with them.

The Nile River and Egypt’s Topography

The area where the Nile River flows is a very fertile region, which is the center of Egypt’s agricultural production. However, apart from it, the rest of the country is a desert. However, in ancient times, this desert region protected the kingdom of the pharaohs by serving as a buffer between Egypt and any hostile kingdom from the south and west. Because of its topography, most of Egypt’s population is concentrated on the northern and eastern part of the country either along the Nile or in the northern coastal areas hugging the Mediterranean. Moreover, Egypt does not get much rainfall, further contributing to the aridity of the land.

History

Egypt is a country with a fascinating ancient history and had one of the oldest civilizations on Earth. See also the ancient history of Egypt

What the country holds

Egypt's attractions sort themselves by era, and the eras are far apart. The pharaonic monuments are concentrated at Giza and Saqqara for the Old Kingdom and in Upper Egypt — Luxor, Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Abu Simbel — for the New. Islamic Cairo, its mosques, madrasas and gates, is Fatimid and Mamluk work from the tenth century onward. Alexandria is the Greco-Roman layer, capital of the Ptolemies and a Roman grain port. Almost nothing important is in the same place as anything else, which is why Egypt is a country of internal flights rather than day trips.

Getting There

Egypt is easily accessible by air. There are daily trips from Europe to the capital, Cairo. Aside from this, Cairo is considered the northern gateway to Africa, and for this reason, it is a host to most travelers entering the continent. Moreover, as in the case of most countries in northern Africa, Egypt is regularly visited by cruise ships and luxury liners coming from Europe.