About Egypt
Egypt has a mystical and timeless appeal that has been attracting travelers from far and wide for many centuries. From the fascinating sights of the Pharaohs, on the banks of the Nile at Luxor, to the glorious beaches of the Red Sea at Sharm El Sheikh, this is a land of great contrast, where ancient and modern life exist side by side.
Past civilisations have left an indelible impression on the landscape creating what today must rank as one of the most spectacular sightseeing destinations in the world. Egypt has clear skies and bright sunshine all year round. English is the most widely spoken language after Arabic. The country offers nature and desert treks, great scuba diving and even golf, fishing and birding expeditions.
Statistics
- 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
- Land Size : 1,001,450 sq km
- Coastline: 2,450 km
- Climate: desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
- Population: 74,000,000 (est. 2005)
- Capital City: Cairo
- GDP: $84.51 billion (2006 est.)
- Main Industries: Tourism, agriculture (namely, cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables, cattle, water buffalo, sheep and goats), manufacturing (namely, textiles, food processing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals and light manufactured products), oil and gas
- Currency : Egyptian Pound (EGP or L.E – £1 = ~9.5 EGP)