Egypt is a country located in South Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge that connects it to Western Asia. It is one of the most densely populated areas in Africa and the Middle East. The vast majority of its population lives near the Nile River, where the only fertile agricultural land can be found. The landscape of Egypt is mostly that of sand, it also has parts of the Sahara and Libyan Desert, referred to as “red land”, in ancient times these lands protected the Pharaohs from any threats from the west.
Egypt has over five thousand years of recorded history, with Ancient Egypt being among the earliest civilizations in the world. They were also one of the first major civilizations to have coded designs in artwork and architecture. Perhaps the best thing that Egypt is known for is the Great Pyramids, colonnades and large, impressive tombs.
There is the Pyramid of Djozer, is the earliest known and oldest, being built in the third century. It was designed by Imhotep, and is recognized to be the oldest monumental structure in the entire world. The best known pyramids can be found in Cairo and Giza, several of the pyramids in Giza are some of the largest in the world. The Pyramid of Khufu, in Giza, is the largest pyramid ever built and one of the only original “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World”, still in existence today.
Pyramids were designed to serve as “steps” for deceased Pharaohs to ascend into the afterlife. The shape is thought to be representational of the primordial mound from which ancient Egyptians believed the earth was formed from. Others believe that the shape represents the descending rays of the sun and most pyramids were faced with brightly polished limestone, which made the visible in the far off distance. All pyramids were built on the Niles west bank, facing the direction of the setting sun which is associated with the realm of the dead, according to Egyptian myth.
Cairo, Egypt, is also known as “City of 1,000 Minarets”, which translates to mean mosques. Egypt has been influenced by a number of ruling empires such as; Abbasis, Fatimid, Ayyubid Mamluk and Ottoman. Egypt offers a wide array of mosques featuring many different styles, which makes it an architectural goldmine. Most of the mosques open for tourism are found in Islamic Cairo, but the oldest one is Coptic (Christian Cairo), may be visited.
Most of the climate of Egypt consists of hot days and cold nights. Egypt only has two recognized seasons, winter which falls during the months of November to April and summer time which occurs between the months of May to October. The differences in the seasons can be noted in the daytime temperature and changes in prevailing winds. Egypt is a country with low humidity with less than average rainfall of eight millimeters per year. A phenomena that occurs in Egypt is the hot winds of the spring time, these winds can reach high speeds and carry sands from the deserts, they can blow for days and there is no explanation as to why.
As you move southward, from the Delta to the Sudan, the temperatures are similar to the open desert. Alexandria is an area with a relatively high humidity level, but sea breezes help to keep the moisture down and cools the air. The city of Cairo has had reported humidity levels of up to 77 percent, but during the rest of the year. While to the north in Alexandria, the cooler temperatures have made it a veritable tourist resort.