Geography

• Egypt is located in North Africa with the Mediterranean Sea on its northern coast. Sudan is to the south, Libya to the west, and the Gaza Strip and Red Sea to the east. Egypt covers an area of about 1 million square kilometers. Most of it is a dry desert plateau. However, the Nile River runs through Egypt from south to north and empties into the Mediterranean Sea. It provides a fertile valley that supports life in this otherwise harsh environment.
  
  

Population

• About 82 million people live in Egypt. More than 99 percent of them are ethnic Egyptians and speak Arabic as their primary language. Egypt is a devoutly Islamic country. Ninety percent of the population is Muslim, mostly Sunni. The rest of the population is Christian and a handful of other faiths.
  
  

History

• Egypt is best known for its ancient treasures that are still visible today. The first kingdom of Egypt was formed about 3200 BC. The ancient pharaohs built pyramids, temples and obelisks out of stone, believing they would ensure their immortality. The Persians invaded in 341 BC. The Greeks, Romans and Byzantines also ruled Egypt, but it was the Arabs who shaped the country's modern identity when they invaded in the 7th century. Egypt was ruled by the Mamluks in 1250, then the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Napoleon invaded in 1798. When the French left in 1801 there was a struggle for power. The victor was a leader named Muhammad Ali. His descendants would rule the country until the Egyptian Revolution of 1952. The United Kingdom began exerting its influence over Egypt shortly after the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869. The British essentially ran a puppet government until they were permanently removed by the revolution. The country's official name is now the Arab Republic of Egypt.
  
  

Economy

• Only about 3 percent of Egypt is arable land, but it is some of the most fertile soil on Earth. This is thanks to the Nile River. Egypt has a reliable agricultural industry that supplies most of the country's needs. The Aswan High Dam provides electricity to much of the country. Egypt exports of petroleum and natural gas. Tourism is a major contributor to the economy. More than 9 million tourists visit Egypt every year. The country has a relatively strong economy among its North African neighbors, but still has significant poverty. In 2008 the per capita income was $5,500 and the unemployment rate was 8.7 percent.
  
  

Sights

• Egypt is world famous for its ancient historical sites. Most notable in the Cairo area are the Great Pyramids at Giza, Sphinx, Egyptian Museum, Step Pyramid of Sakkara, and Citadel. Cruises down the Nile River are popular. Most sail between Luxor and Aswan and visit the Valleys of the Kings and Queens. The temple at Abu Simbel in southern Egypt is also considered one of the most spectacular sights in the country.