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Geography >> Africa >> Egypt History and Timeline

Egypt

Capital: Cairo

Population: 100,388,073

The Geography of Egypt

Borders: Libya, Gaza Strip, Israel, Sudan, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea

Country of Egypt Map
Total Size: 1,001,450 square km

Size Comparison: slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico

Geographical Coordinates: 27 00 N, 30 00 E

World Region or Continent: Africa

General Terrain: vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta

Geographical Low Point: Qattara Depression -133 m

Geographical High Point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m

Climate: desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters

Major Cities: CAIRO (capital) 10.902 million; Alexandria 4.387 million (2009), Giza, Shubra_El-Kheima

Major Landforms: Nile Delta (also known as Lower Egypt), Nile Valley (also known as Upper Egypt), Western (Libyan) Desert, Eastern Desert, Sinai Peninsula, Red Sea Hills, Great Sand Sea

Major Bodies of Water: Nile River (the only year round river in Egypt), Aswan Lake (reservoir created by the Aswan Dam), High Dam Lake, Lake Qarun, Gulf of Suez, Gulf of Aqaba, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea

Famous Places: Great Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx of Giza, Valley of the Kings, Abu Simbel temples, Karnak, Luxor Temples, Aswan High Dam, Cairo Museum, Dendera, Saladin Citadel of Cairo, Step Pyramid of Djoser, Nile River, Suez Canal

Economy of Egypt

Major Industries: textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals, light manufactures

Agricultural Products: cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats

Natural Resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc

Major Exports: crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals

Major Imports: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels

Currency: Egyptian pound (EGP)

National GDP: $519,000,000,000

Government of Egypt

Type of Government: Republic

Independence: 28 February 1922 (from UK)

Divisions: Egypt is divided into 27 governorates or provinces. They are listed below. The largest by population are Cairo, Giza, and Al Sharqia. The largest by size are New Valley, Matrouh, and Red Sea.
  • Matrouh
  • Alexandria
  • Beheira
  • Kafr el-Sheikh
  • Dakahlia
  • Damietta
  • Port Said
  • North Sinai
  • Gharbia
  • Monufia
  • Qalyubia
  • Al Sharqia
  • Ismailia
  • Giza
  • Faiyum
  • Cairo
  • Suez
  • South Sinai
  • Beni Suef
  • Minya
  • New Valley
  • Asyut
  • Red Sea
  • Sohag
  • Qena
  • Luxor
  • Aswan
National Anthem or Song: Bilady, Bilady, Bilady (My Homeland, My Homeland, My Homeland)

National Symbols:
Country of Egypt Flag
Description of flag: The flag of Egypt was adopted on October 4, 1984. It has three equally wide horizontal stripes. From top-to-bottom the colors of the stripes are red, white, and black. In the center of the flag is the Eagle of Saladin, the national emblem. The red stripe represents the time before the revolution, the white stripe represents the bloodless revolution, and the black stripe represents the end of oppression.

National Holiday: Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)

Other Holidays: Christmas (January 7), National Police Day (January 25), Sham El Nessim, Islamic New Year, Sinai Liberation Day (April 25), Labour Day (May 1), Revolution Day (July 23), Armed Forces Day (October 6), Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha

The People of Egypt

Languages Spoken: Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes

Nationality: Egyptian(s)

Religions: Muslim (mostly Sunni) 90%, Coptic 9%, other Christian 1%

Origin of the name Egypt: The name "Egypt" originally comes from the Greek word for the land "Aigyptos." In Ancient Egypt they called the land the "black land" in reference to the black and fertile soil of the Nile River.


Gamal Abdel Nasser (center)
Famous People:

Geography >> Africa >> Egypt History and Timeline


** Source for population (2019 est.) is United Nations. GDP (2011 est.) is CIA World Factbook.



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