Who has not seen the Sphinx or the famous pyramids in Giza? Since childhood, everyone has known the Egyptian gods, pharaohs and hieroglyphs. The culture of this country is one of the most popular and mysterious in the world, so it attracts so much attention. But if you ask about the exact location of Egypt, its capital, the seas washing it and the neighboring countries, few can answer. The geographical position of Egypt remains a mystery to many.
Egypt on a world map
This country is located immediately on two continents - in the south-west of Eurasia (on the Sinai Peninsula) and in northeast Africa. Its area is just over 1 million square kilometers. For comparison: the area of Great Britain is 244 thousand square meters. km., and Russia - 17 million square meters. km
The geographical position of Egypt, located at the junction of two continents, provides it with direct access to the two seas and the channel connecting them. We are talking about the Mediterranean Sea in the north of the country and the Red Sea in the east. They are interconnected by the Suez Canal, which is considered the border between the continents. The closest neighbors of Egypt are several countries. This is Libya in the west, Sudan in the south and Israel in the east.
Geographical data and population
Being not the largest country, Egypt is nevertheless one of the twenty countries with the largest population. 79 million people live there. Most of the inhabitants, however, are forced to live in areas close to the seas and rivers. The rest of the country is occupied by deserts: this is the famous Sahara, or rather, its part; Arabian and Libyan deserts. They are 90% covered in Egypt. The geographical position of the country is such that most of it is unsuitable for life.
Nevertheless, Egypt is rich in minerals. It produces oil, phosphates, iron ore, natural gas, manganese, limestone, lead and zinc. About a tenth of the country's territory is occupied by agricultural land. Many families live rather poorly and are forced to farm.
At the state level, tourism is one of the country's main incomes. Many tourists come to see the sights, swim in the sea and get acquainted with the culture of the most mysterious country in the world, although in recent years their number has decreased significantly.
Climatic conditions
Earlier we found out where Egypt is located. The geographical position of this country from the point of view of climatic zones is very convenient - primarily for farmers, of whom there are quite a lot. From this point of view, Egypt can be called an agrarian country. The southern territories are in the tropical zone, and the northern ones are in the subtropical. This arrangement allows farmers to get 3 crops per year, so the markets are always full of lots of fruits and berries. Nevertheless, a small amount of precipitation forces the use of additional irrigation systems.
Another problem of the Egyptians is the constant change in air temperature. Moreover, this difference is expressed in night cooling. But the seasons here are not so noticeable as in the countries located to the north. The air temperature in Egypt in winter usually does not fall below +10 degrees.
Ancient Egypt and the Nile
There have always been problems with climate and humidity in the country. Therefore, the first settlers, like modern residents, sought water. The emergence of the state of Egypt and its growth are directly related to the rivers. The main one was Neil. It is the second largest river in the world and the largest in the country. Only thanks to its annual floods developed Ancient Egypt. The geographical position of the country in ancient years was somewhat different from the modern one. It was divided into 2 parts - Lower and Upper Egypt, which were at war for a long time. Their unification led to the creation of a single state, headed by the dynasties of the pharaohs.
The Nile spills occurred in the summer, falling closer to the second half of autumn. When leaving, the water left silt on the banks, which enriched the soil and made it incredibly fertile. It is also believed that not only the spills, but also the name the country owes to the Nile. The Greeks called it "Egyptos", and later the whole country became so called.
Capital and largest cities
Despite the fact that the geography of Egypt does not lead to a comfortable life throughout the country, the population density in the largest cities is about 1.5 thousand people per 1 square kilometer. If we take into account deserts and sparsely populated areas, this figure will only slightly exceed 60 people.
Cairo is not only the capital, but also the largest city in the country. It is home to over 6.5 million people. This is the twelfth of all the people living in Egypt. The geographical position of Cairo, like other major cities of the state, is associated with the Nile. The capital is located directly on the river and occupies both its banks in the northern part of the country.
Another major city is Alexandria. The number of inhabitants in it is 2 times lower than the population of the capital. It is located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and is the largest port in the country. The city of El Ghiza with a population of 4.5 million people ranks third in the list of the largest cities in Egypt. Everyone who is even a little familiar with the culture of the country knows perfectly well what he is famous for. Giza annually attracts many tourists who want to see one of the wonders of the world - the Egyptian pyramids.
Not included in the list of the largest cities in the country, but which are quite significant at the same time, are Suez with a population of 411 thousand people and Port Said. About 470 thousand inhabitants live in it.
Major Attractions
Not so much the sea as an amazing culture annually attracts many tourists to Egypt. The geographical location of the main attractions, as well as the country itself, is inextricably linked with the Nile. After all, it was around him that a whole civilization developed over the centuries, leaving memories of himself in the form of monuments of culture and architecture.
The Sphinx, as well as the
pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus are located in Giza. Luxor is also rich in various attractions. It is here that one of the best preserved temples of Ancient Egypt is located. Many other architectural monuments are also waiting for tourists in many other cities - in Alexandria, Cairo, in ancient Karnak, etc.