Huge pyramids, snow-white sand, warm sea, fabulous vacation… These are the associations that arise at the mention of Egypt. In terms of area, the country ranks only 29th in the world. But this does not affect the diversity of natural and climatic conditions of this amazing state with a rich history.
Origin of the name
Ta-Kemet - this is how the ancient Egyptians called their country, which means "black earth". Indeed, the soils in the Nile Valley are highly fertile. The modern name of the country was given by the ancient Greeks. It is consonant with the name of the main city - Hikupta, which literally means "the house of Ka Ptah". Over time, the whole territory began to be called that. And the term itself has become firmly established in all languages of the European group.
Egyptian government
The full name of the country is the Arab Republic of Egypt. The President is the head of state and commander in chief. Since 2014this position is held by Abdul-Fattah Al-Sisi. According to the account, this is the sixth president of Egypt, who came to power as a result of a military coup.
The form of government is a presidential-parliamentary republic. The head of government is the prime minister, and the highest legislative body is the national assembly. The official language of Egypt is Arabic, the religion is Islam.
Capital cities
Egypt is known as one of the most ancient states. Its history goes back about 5 thousand years. But the modern territory gained independence from the British Empire only at the beginning of the 20th century.
Now the capital of Egypt is Al Qahira, or Cairo. In ancient times it was called the Egyptian Babylon. It is the largest city in Africa and is located on both banks of the Nile. But over the long history of the capital changed many times. The very first of them - the city of Tiba - arose as early as 2950 BC. Memphis, Thebes, Avaris, Sais, Alexandria are also famous capitals of Egypt. More than nine million people now live in Cairo.
Physical location
Description of the country of Egypt let's start with its borders. The western neighbor is Libya, the eastern neighbor is Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and the southern neighbor is Sudan. A long maritime border stretches along Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Egypt is located on the territory of two continents - in the northwestern part of Africa and in Asia, on the Sinai Peninsula. The Suez Canal separates them.
Egypt is washed by two seas - the Mediterranean and the Red. Connects themthe largest artificial canal is the Suez. This opens the way to the Indian and Atlantic oceans. The Nile, the widest river in Africa, crosses Egypt from south to north. In terms of length, it ranks second after the Amazon, flowing through the territory of ten states.
Egypt's main minerals are found in the oil and gas basin of the Gulf of Suez. These are 5 gas and 46 oil fields. In the bowels of the Sinai Peninsula there are insignificant reserves of coal, iron, manganese and uranium ores.
The flora and fauna of the country is quite scarce, since more than 95% of its territory is desert.
Climatic characteristics
Unbearable heat is another association that arises when describing Egypt. The country is mostly located in the tropics, and the north is in the subtropical climate zone.
For the subtropics, which are located near the coasts of the seas, dry summers and wet mild winters are typical. The average summer temperature here is 30 degrees Celsius. In winter, its indicator drops to 20-25 ° C. Egypt's climate is characterized by diurnal temperature fluctuations. And if on the coasts it is colder by an average of 10 degrees at night, then in the desert this figure is much higher. The unbearable heat of the day here can be replaced by night frosts. In Egypt, there are non-traditional for us winter and summer, hot and cool seasons. The first one lasts from April to October. And from November to March it is cool in Egypt.
Precipitation is quite rare for the country. In the form of short-term heavy rains, they fall from November to January. Their number increases from south to north from 3 to 200 mm.
Egypt is not without reason called the country of winds, because they blow here all year round. On the sea coasts, this significantly softens the heat. But the southwest wind hasmin is the cause of a decrease in atmospheric pressure, a sharp increase in temperature and sand storms.
Egyptian economy
According to the Ministry of Tourism of the country, in the first half of last year, more than 10 million citizens visited it. The proceeds from this amounted to about 5 billion dollars. Tourism is the backbone of the Egyptian economy. The normalization of the political situation allows us to make forecasts in the direction of the development of this industry.
One of the leading income items of the state is the fee from ships that keep their way through the Suez Canal. A billion dollars a year - that's how much Egypt receives for operating this waterway.
The main industry is mining. The area of the Gulf of Suez and the Sinai Peninsula is rich in oil, which is the main export product. Natural gas deposits allow not only to meet our own needs, but also to supply it to Syria, Jordan and Israel. The metallurgical industry, represented by the Helwan complex, also works partly on its own raw materials.
Energy needs are provided by the Aswan hydroelectric power plant, as well as the wind farm in Hurghada. Recently, the use of solar energy has been promising.
Agriculture
This industry is actively developing withsecond half of the 20th century in the vast Nile Valley. Thanks to the irrigation system and climate features, crops are obtained several times a year. The leading crops are wheat, rice, corn, sugar cane and beets, cotton, citrus and vegetables.
The national currency of the state is the Egyptian ruble, the change unit of which is called "piastres". It is in them that the price is usually indicated. But if you take US dollars on your trip to Egypt, you can't go wrong.
The exchange rate of the Egyptian pound against the ruble today is 1:3, 74. The ratio to the dollar is 1:0.06, to the euro - 1:0.05. In addition to traditional exchange offices and bank branches, currency can be changed in special ATMs. The advantage of the latter is that you do not need a passport for such an operation.
Foreign policy
The state occupies a strategic position on the political map. Egypt is located between Asia and Africa, connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean through the Suez Canal. Control of the Nile is essential to the viability of the country. This position puts Egypt at the center of Islamic, Arab, African interests.
Egypt's foreign policy has a multi-vector character. But the main task is to ensure stability, peace and national interests. Back in 1979, a peace treaty was concluded between Israel and Egypt, which is still in force today. And since 2006, an excursion route has been opened to Jerusalem, Eilat, the resorts of the Dead and Mediterranean Seas. But with neighboring SudanIn Egypt, there are still disagreements over the ownership of the "Halaib Triangle". The area, which covers an area of more than 20,000 km2, is home to oil wells and a national park. At the moment, there is no single UNPO resolution on the ownership of the "Halaib triangle". Each member of this organization has its own opinion on this issue. For example, Russia considers it part of Egypt, while most Western countries consider it part of Sudan.
Close trade cooperation with Kazakhstan has continued since its independence. Close ties between Egypt and Russia are also known. Diplomatic relations between the countries were established in 1943. And after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Egypt was one of the first states to recognize Russia as the legal successor of the USSR. Now military cooperation between the countries is actively developing within the framework of the "Defenders of Friendship" program.
In 2004, Egypt signed an association agreement with the European Union and joined the African Union of Chambers of Commerce.
Attractions
Tourists come to the country not only to swim in the warm sea and enjoy the subtropical climate. A description of Egypt, a country that many dream of visiting, would not be complete without its amazing buildings. First of all, these are the pyramids, whose age is 5 thousand years. The largest of them is the tomb of Pharaoh Cheops, the construction of which took more than 2 million stone blocks.
Another unique structureEgypt is the Great Sphinx. This is a giant lion with a human face. "King of horror" - that's what they called him in antiquity. The fact is that such structures were used for executions and sacrifices. Surprising is the fact that with a huge size, namely 21 m in height and 73 m in length, the inside of the statue is empty.
Most Popular Resorts
The names of the largest cities of ancient Egypt have been known since time immemorial. The exact dates of their founding cannot be established. One of the most ancient is Aswan - the Egyptian gates of Africa. It is believed to be over 7,000 years old. Aswan is not particularly comfortable due to the temperature difference. During the day, the thermometer can change from +50 to 0 degrees Celsius.
Another ancient city - Abydos, is known as a center of pilgrimage. It was here that the temples were located, in which believers hurried to worship Osirius. In mythology, this is the king of the underworld and the judge of the souls of the dead. Thousands of people flocked to Abydos to bring the bodies of the dead.
If you are interested in modern tourist cities, then you need to choose between Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh. Comfortable hotels, clean beaches, warm sea, magnificent landscapes, lagoons and coral reefs for diving will not leave anyone indifferent.
The largest city in Egypt and all of Africa is its capital - Cairo. It is here that the well-known Sphinx, the Muhammad Ali Mosque and the Perfume Museum are located. The next largest city in the country is Alexandria. Herethere was the seventh wonder of the world - the Lighthouse of Alexandria.
Customs restrictions
Egyptian bazaars are full of variety: souvenirs, seasonings and spices, bijouterie and jewelry, household items… Traveling through them is no less interesting than getting to know the sights. But will you be able to bring all the goods home?
You need to know that Egyptian laws limit the amount of gold and silver jewelry. They can be purchased for personal use, not for trade. Both the import and export of drugs, weapons, cotton and antiques that are more than 100 years old are strictly prohibited. You can take two liters of alcohol and two hundred cigarettes per person with you to Egypt.
As far as money is concerned, there are no limits. But the amount over 500 Egyptian pounds will have to be declared.
We think the description of Egypt, a mysterious and amazing country, will resolve all your doubts when choosing a resort for a long-awaited vacation. After all, it is here that ancient traditions and modern achievements are perfectly combined, which will make your vacation unforgettable, informative and comfortable.
