Cairo : Monuments and artifacts of ancient Egypt

Egypt has been always a country of tourism where Europeans used to ?visit and see its antiquities dating back to the various eras and ?civilizations. In the recreational tourism domain, there are scores of? unique tourist destinations such as Sharm -el-Sheikh, Hurghada, Safaga ?and others. Moreover, Egypt is renowned for therapeutical and ?environmental tourism as well as other kinds such as Safari, conferences ?and sports.?

Egypt has a wide range of beaches situated on the Mediterreanean and the Red Sea that extend to over 3,000 km.The Red sea has serene waters,colored coral reefs,rare fish and beautiful mountain.

The Akba Gulf beaches also provide facilities for practicing sea sports. Safaga tops the Red Sea zonewith its beautiful location on the Suez Gulf .

Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada, Dahab, Ras Sidr,Mars Alam,Safaga and the northern coast of the Mediterranean are major tourist's destinations of the recreational tourism.

Egypt is considered one of the richest environments of therapeutic value by virtue of its natural resources and dry warm weather, Egypt is home to several unique sulphurous and mineral springs in addition to the miraculously healing ability of the black sand found in the city of Safga

Egypt is located in the north-eastern corner of Africa and south-western Asia. It is bounded on the north by the Mediterranean Sea, on the east by Palestine and Israel, on the south by Sudan, and on the west by Libya.

Egypt is 50 feet below sea level. Some important cities, towns, and places in Egypt are Cairo (the capital), Giza, Memphis, Thebes, Alexandria, Suez Canal, Abu Simbel, Sinai Peninsula, and Rosetta. The highest point is Catharine Mountain that is 8,668 feet high. The lowest point is Qattara Depression and is 436 feet below sea level.

The Nile Delta is the only delta in Egypt and is 100 miles long and 155 miles wide. It is in the shape of a triangle. There are 5 important oases in Egypt and they are all located in the Libyan Desert. They are the Farafrah, Bahriah, Dakhla, Kharijah, and the Siwah oases.

The area of Egypt is 386, 662 square miles. The distances from east to west are 770 miles and from north to south it is 675 miles. There are no forests in but there are date palms and citrus groves. Papyrus plants grow only near the Nile.

Cairo -the Triumphant City - is the glorious capital of Egypt, the cradle of civilization and the beacon of religion. It is the largest city in the Middle East and Africa and lies at the centre of all routes that lead to and from Asia, Africa and Europe.

Cairo was founded on July 16, 969 AD by the Fatimid leader Jawhar Al-Sequilli, by an order from the Fatimid Khalif Al-Mo'iz lideenellah. It was named "the city of the 1000 minarets.

Cairo is Africa's most populous city and the Arab world's cultural center. People from all over the world visit Cairo to see the monuments and artifacts of ancient Egypt as well as the various aspects of modern Cairo.

Cairo provides its visitors with great cultural destinations which include a vast amount of art galleries, music halls, cultural centers etc? Cairo also offers its visitors with great accommodation, restaurants, and various leisure activities and shopping. In Cairo there is something for everyone. Tourists can enjoy Khan El Khalili Bazaar while shopping for antiques, rugs, copper and many other oriental gifts; while others may enjoy shopping for the latest fashion trends in one of Cairo magnificent malls.

The Nile River is the longest river in the world, stretching for 4,187 miles. The Nile flows from south to north and is formed by three major tributaries: the White Nile, the Blue Nile and the Atbara.

The Blue Nile has its source in the highlands of the African country of Ethiopia, by Lake Tana. The runoff from spring rain and melting snow caused the annual summer flood of the Nile that the Egyptians depended on for water to irrigate their crops, and deposit fertile top soil. Just north of Khartoum the combined White and Blue Nile meet their final major tributary, the Atbara which also has its source in the Ethiopian highlands.

The Nile then plunges into a canyon. Before the construction of the Aswan High Dam; the Nile rolled through a series of six rapids, called cataracts, between northern Sudan and southern Egypt.

Since construction of the dam, the river has gradually changed its course. North of Cairo, the Nile splits into two branches (or distributaries), the Rosetta Branch to the west and the Damietta to the east. Lake Nasser is a man-made lake created by the construction of the Aswan High Dam, opened in 1971.

The dam was built to regulate the flow of the Nile River, and thus benefit the region's inhabitants. However, technology often also disrupts a local ecosystem, the life and nature it affects.

The canyon that was once behind where the dam is now, was flooded after the dam was built. Before the region was flooded for the dam, some Ancient sites were carefully moved. Others were permanently covered and destroyed by the water.

Lake Nasser stretches over a distance of 312 miles. Gone are the days when Egyptians worry that the Nile will flood too high, destroying their crops; or fall too low, not providing proper irrigation. To enjoy the benefits of a steady river flow, thousands of peoples homes were submerged when the dam went into operation and Lake Nasser was formed.

The Aswan High Dam has caused other changes. The water surface of the lake has reduced the average temperature in the region. The dam has also harnessed the water for the production of electricity and navigation has been improved.

Furthermore, the Nile is no longer flowing strongly enough to keep salt water from the Mediterranean Sea from forcing its way up the Nile.

In one generation, thousands of years of life along the Nile River have been permanently altered. The River Nile and its banks The Nile is truly the River of Life and has been revered in Egypt since ancient times. Until the Aswan High Dam was built, only 4% of Egypt was cultivated, but this has now been extended to 6%. Nearly all habitation owes its existence to the narrow strip of land either side of the river itself or to the very fertile Nile Delta in the north.

One explanation for the shape of the Ankh, the ancient Egyptian symbol for eternal life, is that it is thought to represent the Nile and its importance to life and consequently their religion.

The two side arms represent the two banks of the river - East for the Living and West for the After-life. The top loop is for the productivity and fertility of the Nile Delta; the stem is for the Nile itself. The proximity of the Desert to the river is a constant reminder of the fragility of the narrow strip of life which survives all the way from Aswan to Cairo. Many of the dwellings and settlements have a very simple existence with few modern amenities.

Boats of the River Nile

The history of Egypt is totally dominated by the River Nile. At one time nearly all transportation was by boat along the river. Consequently it was always thought that Gods would travel by boat - or barque as it was called. The souls of the dead also traveled by barque in the afterlife.

FELUCCAS: - The felucca has remained, over the centuries, the primary transportation of the Nile. Its ancient form still graces the river as it has done since the time of the Pharaohs. Motorized barges transport bulk material and modern cruise ships transport tourists, but the felucca remains despite modern alternatives.

The felucca rarely has any form of engine and relies entirely on the breeze which builds during the day and usually subsides at night. Some of the craft today are used to carry tourists who wish to enjoy an eternally peaceful journey carried along by the gentle breeze and the currents of the river.

Few are now made entirely of wood, but the basic layout has barely changed. They don't have a keel as such, but a heavy centre plate which can be raised in the shallows. The sails are seriously low tech affairs made of native cotton and other natural fibers.

Tour Boats: - There are a phenomenal number of tourist boats on the Nile and most of them resemble a floating block of flats - they have little charm on the outside and absolutely no connection with Egypt on the inside. They are floating hotels designed to keep the Western traveler sanitized from the world outside - but Pharaoh does exact his revenge!!

The Nile River is possibly the most famous river in history. It was by its banks that one of the oldest civilizations in the world began. Not surprisingly, the Nile teems with life. Many different types of animals, birds, and fish all call the Nile River home.

Hundreds of years ago, even hippos and lions could be found here in the Nile Valley. The crocodile's eyes and nostrils are on top of the head so it can see and breathe while the rest of it is underwater.

As an added advantage, its ears and nostrils can close when it dives, and a nictitating membrane (a transparent eyelid) closes over the eye to keep water out. Nile Crocodiles range all over Africa, eating almost anything (including each other), but rarely moving away from their chosen body of water.

Hatchlings eat small fish and insects; adults will go after turtles, baboons, and even the gigantic wildebeest. They live in large "communities" of several dozen crocodiles, but even there they tend to leave each other alone except during a "feeding frenzy" when they will all unite to take down a much larger animal.

The Nile Valley is home to so many creatures we wouldn't be able to see them all, but here is a good collection for you to see.

Egypt is richin its world class treatment resorts due to its genuine natural resources such as its, dry and warm climate, and lots of mineral and sulfuric streams, black curative sands.

Egypt has gained a valuable position on the tourist map; not only due to the fact that it contains a vast amount of historical monuments, but also because of the variety of options it presents to tourists.

Due to Egypt's magnificent resources it has become one of the world's most famous destination that offer natural medical treatment under the supervision of specialized doctors and their dedicated staff.

Egypt enjoys a distinguished geographical location at the juncture of the ancient world continents of Africa, Asia and Europe. It has always been a place of inter-civilization reactivation between the East and the West as well as the North and the South. Egypt was also the crossing road of the heavenly religions of the world.

Helwan

The Helwan suburb is located about thirty kilometers away from Cairo, and to the east of the River Nile, Helwan is about forty meters above the sea level .

Helwan climate is dry and moderate, humidity percentage is about 58%there are several sulphurous and mineral Springs, and a health center was founded there for the treatment of rheumatism and rheumatic pains .

Treatment in Helwan dated back to 1899,then the baths were renewed in 1955, Helwan Center for the treatment of rheumatism and physical treatment was built on the Islamic style of architecture, the center includes 38 rooms for the treatment, rest rooms and places for patients to reside .

The whole place is surrounded by fantastic gardens.

Baharia Oasis

Baharia oasis contains about four hundred warm and cold springs. Scientific research conducted at the Egyptian and foreign universities as well proved that the water from the Baharia Oasis is useful in the treatment of rheumatism, reheumatoid and various skin diseases .

Baharia Oasis is famous among European tourists; they come especially to have their treatment in the springs of wll Halfa and its warm water.(30 degrees Celsius,which sometimes rises to 40degrees Celsius)

Beshmo is one of the famous archeological sites at the Baharia oasis due to the fact that it contains two water sources, one of which is hot and the other is cold, both run down the same deep stony stream .

Siwa is considered as being the most wonderful Oasis in the western desert. It is considered as the Oasis of beauty, poetry and the paradise of artists. Sand dunes and palm and olive trees are scattered in the Oasis in addition to a number of clear wells and springs.

Siwa

Siwa Oasis is located about 300 kilometers to the west of Mersa Matrouh. It is the best place for environmental treatment in Egypt. Siwa is famous for its moderate climate, pure air and blue clear sky.

El Dakrror Mountain It is located to the south west of Siwa Oasis. The people of Siwa believe that the mountain is sacred.

There is a celebration that is held on a yearly basis in October after the Harvest Season ( The Valley Season ).

The festival lasts for three days , all the inhabitants of the valley must participate in the festival.

The mountain area is most famous for its treatment facilities that aid in curing rheumatism, joint pain and weakness.

It is most famous for a treatment that involves the burial of the diseased body parts in hot sand for a certain period of time during the day. This particular treatment procedure gained a lot of popularity among Arabs and recently foreigners .

Hot Springs

Siwa Oasis has got many springs which are being used for therapeutic treatment purposes . The water of the hot springs is capable of curing a number of diseases such as psoriasis , rheumatism and some digestive system diseases .

The most famous springs is the Kegar well , the temperature of its water is 67 degree Celisus .

Scientific research proved that the water contains amounts of minerals similar to that found in the water of the springs of Carlo Vefari ( Czech ) the famous Health Center where tourists visit to have their treatment .

Dahab

Dahab means gold in Arabic. It is said that this name was given by the Bedouins, who likened the shimmering sands to gold dust.

Dahab, located approximately 100km northwest of Sharm El-Sheikh, is still considered to be one of South Sinai's most treasured diving destinations swarmed by tourists.

It is famous for its golden beaches and deceptively deep diving sites, such as the Blue Hole, the Canyon and the Lighthouse.

Courtesy Internet