Egypt

Egypt lies mostly in North africa, yet the Sinai peninsula also gives it a foothold in asia. Nearly all 110 million citizens live along the Nile River, which flows south to north before fanning into a lush delta on the Mediterranean sea. Cairo anchors politics, film, and universities, while Alexandria handles maritime trade and Port Said guards the entrance to the Suez Canal.

Away from the river, the Sahara's sand seas and rocky plateaus stretch to distant horizons. Oases such as Siwa and Kharga shelter date palms and groundwater, and new solar parks shimmer near the Western Desert. The Nile Valley, however, remains the country's lifeline. Seasonal floods once spread fertile silt, and the Aswan High Dam now regulates water for irrigation, hydropower, and year-round navigation.

Egypt's history traces back to pharaohs who built pyramids, carved hieroglyphic texts, and unified Upper and Lower Egypt around 3100 BCE. Later periods brought Greek influences under Alexander the Great, the reign of Cleopatra VII, Roman rule, Islamic caliphates, Ottoman governors, British occupation, and finally independence in the mid-20th century. Today Egypt is a republic whose institutions continue to evolve through elections, constitutional reforms, and civic debates.

The modern economy blends irrigated agriculture growing cotton, citrus, rice, and vegetables with energy production from natural gas fields in the Mediterranean. The Suez Canal channels ships between europe and Asia, earning vital hard currency. tourism to Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, and the Red Sea resorts supports millions of jobs, and new industrial zones near Ain Sokhna attract manufacturers seeking proximity to global shipping lanes.

Egyptian culture remains vibrant. Arabic is the official language, but Nubian, Bedouin, and Coptic communities preserve additional tongues and traditions. Ramadan nights fill streets with lanterns, oud music, and sweet kunafa desserts. Filmmakers, novelists, and comedians broadcast across the Arab world, while archaeologists keep revealing tombs, mummies, and painted coffins that link the present with 5,000 years of recorded history.