| | 80 F (27 C) | |
Humidity
| 69% | |
Wind
| from the NW (320 degrees) at 8 MPH (7 KT):0 | | Alexandria / Nouzha, Egypt (HEAX) 31-12N 029-57E 7M | | Sep 05, 2010 - 08:00 PM EDT / 2010.09.06 0000 UTC |
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| Egypt |  | جمهوريّة مصرالعربيّة |
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| Country Name: |
Arab Republic of Egypt Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah جمهوريّة مصرالعربيّة
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| Background: |
The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west, allowed for the development of one of the world's great civilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C., and a series of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Following the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became an important world transportation hub, but also fell heavily into debt. Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty with the overthrow of the British-backed monarchy in 1952. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government has struggled to meet the demands of Egypt's growing population through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure.
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| Area: |
1,001,450 sq km |
| Population: |
83,082,869 (July 2009 est.) |
| Ethnic Groups: |
Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins, and Berbers) 99%, Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian and French) 1% |
| Borders: |
Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 266 km, Libya 1,115 km, Sudan 1,273 km |
| Natural Resources: |
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc |
| Capital: |
Cairo |
| Government Type: |
republic |
| Independence: |
28 February 1922 (from UK) |
| Languages: |
Arabic, English, French |
| Currency: |
Egyptian Pound |
| GMT: |
GMT (+2) |
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Alexandria
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3
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Aswan
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97
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Asyut
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88
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Benha
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13
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Cairo
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2
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Click GSM (GSM 900)
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010 + seven digits
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Damanhour
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45
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El Mahallah (El Kubra)
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40
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El Mansoura
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50
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Hurghada
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65
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Luxor
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95
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MobiNil (GSM 900)
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012 + seven digits
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Port Said
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66
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Shebin El Korn
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48
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Sohag
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93
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Tanta
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40
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January 7
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Coptic Christmas Day
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February 26
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Birth of the Prophet
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April 25
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Sinai Liberation Day (Sinai only)
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April 28
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Sham el-Nassim (Coptic Easter)
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May 1
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Labour Day
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July 23
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National Day
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September 10
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Bairam Feast (End of Ramadan)
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September 11
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Coptic New Year
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October 6
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Armed Forces Day
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November 16
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Grand Feast
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December 7
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Islamic New Year
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