A land of over 7000 years of civilization, Egypt strikes a perfect balance between old and new; between what is history and timeless treasures and what is modern and state-of-the-art. Walking through parts of old Cairo, Luxor, or Aswan, one would get the feeling that this is a country forgotten by time. It is an endless treasure chest full of sectrets and mysteries waiting to be discovered - a land untouched since the Ancient Egyptians left it. But walking away from the Ancient Egyptians' domain and into that of the modern one, one finds himself surrounded by tall, glass buildings, modern luxury cars, yachts, and every other aspect of the technologically advanced world. A few hundred miles further out and you will find yourself in the midst of yet another kind of wonder - nature - for the Red Sea coasts of Egypt and its Sinai Peninsula have some of the world's most marvelous corals and diving sites.
As you can see, Egypt is a country blessed with many wonders - history, nature, technology, and above all, its people - a kind and hospitable population which has been through many ups and downs, and knows how to take time to enjoy life. In brief, Egypt is a world of its own. A country definitely worth a visit - in fact once you go there one time you will always find yourself going back again. Now here is a summary of Egypt:
Area: 1,001,450 square-km (386,660 square-mile)
Location: Egypt lies on the north-eastern corner of Africa. It borders the Mediterranean Sea on the north, the Red Sea on the east, Libya on the west, and Sudan on the south.
Climate: Desert climate; hot summer days with cool nights, and cool winters with moderate precipitation.
Type of Government: Republic
Flag: Red, white, and black bands, with a golden eagle in the center.
Population: 60,765,028
Currency: Egyptian Pound
Language: Arabic is the official language, although English and French are widely spoken.
Religion: Muslim (Predominantly Sunni) 94%, Coptic Christians and Others 6%.
Sports: Soccer is Egypt's favorite pastime, although Egypt is also regionally acclaimed in Volleyball, Basketball, and Field Hockey.
History: Throughout history, Egypt has been colonized and ruled by many countries and empires including the Ottomans, France, and Britain. Of course before all this Egypt was arguably the most advanced civilization in ancient history. In 1922 Egypt gained its independance from Britain. And in 1952 it experienced a revolution, overthrowing the throne, and establishing the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Holidays: February 22 - Independance Day (from Britain); July 23 - Anniversary of the Revolution; September 11 - Constitution Day.
Chief Crops: Egypt is one of the world's leading exporters of cotton. Corn, rice, and fruits are also abundantly grown, although mostly for domestic use.
Minerals: Iron, manganese, quartz, natural gas, oil, and uranium.
Industries: Tourism is by far the largest industry sector. Egypt also manufactures automobiles, electronics, textiles, processed foods, chemicals, cement, and metals.
Tourism: Cairo, Alexandria, the Red Sea, the Northern Riviera, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, the Western Desert, and much, much more!
Yalabina...A re-make of a famous Egyptian song, performed here half in Spanish, half in Arabic! (1,402KB - large file)
Ragein is a popular song by one of Egypt's most famous singers, Amr Diab. (262KB - much smaller!)
Egyptian Soccer News
