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Egypt is one of the most populous countries in Africa and the Middle East. The great majority of its estimated 76 million live near the banks of the Nile River, in an area of about 40,000 square kilometers (15,000 sq mi), where the only arable agricultural land is found. The large areas of the Sahara Desert are sparsely inhabited. About half of Egypt's residents live in urban areas, with the majority spread across the densely-populated centres of greater Cairo, Alexandria and other major cities in the Nile Delta.
Egypt is famous for its ancient civilization and some of the world's most famous monuments, including the Giza pyramid complex and its Great Sphinx. The southern city of Luxor contains numerous ancient artifacts, such as the Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings. Egypt is widely regarded as an important political and cultural nation of the Middle East.
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Long Form Name |
The Arab Republic of Egypt |
Capital |
Cairo. It is the largest city in the Arab World, Africa, and the Middle East. It is also the industrial and commercial center of Egypt. |
Other Major Cities |
Alexandria, Tanta, Port Said, Luxor, Aswan, Zagazig and Assiut |
Area |
Total: 1,001,450 sq km |
Land: 995,450 sq km |
Water: 6,000 sq km |
Location |
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and includes the Asian Sinai Peninsula. |
Geographic Coordinates |
27 00 N, 30 00 E |
Population |
78.7(May 2008 est.) |
Languages |
Arabic (official), English and French widely understood |
The Flag |
A tricolor of red, white, and black, with the golden eagle of Saladin, which is the Egyptian national emblem, set in the middle. |
Currency |
Egyptian Pound = 100 Piasters |
1 US Dollar = approximately 5.62505 Egyptian Pounds (9/2/2009) |
National Day |
23rd of July. It commemorates the Anniversary of the 1952 Revolution. |
Independence |
28 February 1922 (from UK) |
Land Boundaries |
Total: 2,665 km |
Border countries: Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 266 km, Libya 1,115 km, Sudan 1,273 km |
Terrain |
Vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta |
Climate |
Hot, dry summers with moderate winters. |
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From Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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