1.
Governorates of Egypt
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Governorates are the first-level of the subdivisions. Egypt is divided, for administrative purposes, into twenty-seven governorates, egyptian governorates are the top tier of the countrys jurisdiction hierarchy. A governorate is administered by a governor, who is appointed by the President of Egypt, most governorates have a population density of more than one thousand per km², while the three largest have a population density of less than two per km². Governorates are either fully urban or else a mixture of urban, the official distinction between urban and rural is reflected in the lower tiers, i. e. fully urban governorates have no regions, as the markaz is, natively, a conglomeration of villages. Moreover, governorates may comprise just one city, as in the case of Cairo Governorate or Alexandria Governorate, hence, these one-city governorates are only divided into districts. Cairo Governorate consists of 41 districts, Alexandria Governorate consists of 7, two new governorates were created in April 2008, Helwan and 6th of October. In April 2011, however, the 6th of October and Helwan governorates were again incorporated into the Cairo and Giza Governorates, respectively. Luxor was created in December 2009, to be the 29th governorate of Egypt, but with the abolition of the 6th of October and Helwan governorates, before 1979, local government traditionally enjoyed limited power in Egypts highly centralized state. Under the central government, there were twenty-six governorates and these were subdivided into regions, each of which was further subdivided into towns or villages. At each level, there was a structure that combined representative councils and government-appointed executive organs headed by governors, district officers. Governors were appointed by the president, and they, in turn, the coercive backbone of the state apparatus ran downward from the Ministry of Interior through the governors executive organs to the district police station and the village headman. Before the 1952 revolution, state penetration of the areas was limited by the power of local notables. However, under Nasser, land reform reduced their socioeconomic dominance, the extension of officials into the countryside permitted the regime to bring development and services to the village. State penetration did not retreat under Sadat and Mubarak, the earlier effort to mobilize peasants and deliver services disappeared as the local party and cooperative withered, but administrative controls over the peasants remained intact. The local power of the old families and the headmen revived, the district police station balanced the notables, and the system of local government integrated them into the regime. Sadat took several measures to decentralize power to the provinces and towns, governors acquired more authority under Law Number 43 of 1979, which reduced the administrative and budgetary controls of the central government over the provinces. The elected councils acquired, at least formally, the right to approve or disapprove the local budget, in an effort to reduce local demands on the central treasury, local government was given wider powers to raise local taxes. Local representative councils became vehicles of pressure for government spending, under Mubarak decentralization and local autonomy became more of a reality, and local policies often reflected special local conditions
2.
Egypt
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Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia by a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. Egypt is a Mediterranean country bordered by the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Gulf of Aqaba to the east, the Red Sea to the east and south, Sudan to the south, and Libya to the west. Across the Gulf of Aqaba lies Jordan, and across from the Sinai Peninsula lies Saudi Arabia, although Jordan and it is the worlds only contiguous Afrasian nation. Egypt has among the longest histories of any country, emerging as one of the worlds first nation states in the tenth millennium BC. Considered a cradle of civilisation, Ancient Egypt experienced some of the earliest developments of writing, agriculture, urbanisation, organised religion and central government. One of the earliest centres of Christianity, Egypt was Islamised in the century and remains a predominantly Muslim country. With over 92 million inhabitants, Egypt is the most populous country in North Africa and the Arab world, the third-most populous in Africa, and the fifteenth-most populous in the world. The great majority of its people live near the banks of the Nile River, an area of about 40,000 square kilometres, the large regions of the Sahara desert, which constitute most of Egypts territory, are sparsely inhabited. About half of Egypts residents live in areas, with most spread across the densely populated centres of greater Cairo, Alexandria. Modern Egypt is considered to be a regional and middle power, with significant cultural, political, and military influence in North Africa, the Middle East and the Muslim world. Egypts economy is one of the largest and most diversified in the Middle East, Egypt is a member of the United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement, Arab League, African Union, and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Miṣr is the Classical Quranic Arabic and modern name of Egypt. The name is of Semitic origin, directly cognate with other Semitic words for Egypt such as the Hebrew מִצְרַיִם, the oldest attestation of this name for Egypt is the Akkadian
3.
Faiyum
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Faiyum is a city in Middle Egypt. Located 100 kilometres southwest of Cairo, in the Faiyum Oasis, originally called Shedet in Ancient Egypt, the Greeks called it Crocodilopolis or Krocodilopolis, the Romans Arsinoë. It is one of Egypts oldest cities due to its strategic location and its name in English is also spelled as Fayum, Faiyum or El Faiyūm. Faiyum was previously officially named Madīnet El Faiyūm, the name Faiyum may also refer to the Faiyum Oasis, although it is commonly used by Egyptians today to refer to the city. Archaeological evidence has found occupations around the Fayum dating back to at least the Epipalaeolithic period, recently the area has been further investigated by a team from the UCLA/RUG/UOA Fayum Project. In the Pharaonic era, the city now called Medinet el Fayum was called Shedet and it was the most significant centre of the cult of Sobek, the crocodile-god. In consequence, the Greeks named it Crocodilopolis, Crocodile City, the city worshipped a tamed sacred crocodile, named Petsuchos, that was adorned with gold and gem pendants. The crocodile lived in a temple pond and was fed by the priests with food provided by visitors. When the Petsuchos died, it was replaced by another, under the Ptolemies, the city was for a while called Ptolemais Euergetis. Ptolemy II Philadelphus rechristened the city Arsinoë and the whole nome after the name of his sister and wife Arsinoë, under the Roman Empire, Arsinoe became part of the province of Arcadia Aegypti. To distinguish it from other cities of the name, it was called Arsinoë in Arcadia. With the arrival of Christianity, Arsinoe became the seat of a bishopric, a suffragan of the Oxyrhynchus, the capital of the province, lequien gives the names of several bishops of Arsinoe, nearly all of them associated with one heresy or another. The Catholic Church, considering Arsinoë in Arcadia to be no longer a residential bishopric, Faiyum has several large bazaars, mosques, baths and a much-frequented weekly market. The canal called Bahr Yussef runs through the city, its banks lined with houses, mounds north of the city mark the site of Arsinoe, known to the ancient Greeks as Crocodilopolis, where in ancient times the sacred crocodile kept in Lake Moeris was worshipped. The center of the city is on the canal, with four waterwheels that were adopted by the governorate of Fayoum as its symbol, their chariots, Faiyum is the source of some famous death masks or mummy portraits painted during the Roman occupation of the area. The Egyptians continued their practice of burying their dead, despite the Roman preference for cremation, while under the control of the Roman Empire, Egyptian death masks were painted on wood in a pigmented wax technique called encaustic—the Faiyum mummy portraits represent this technique. Modern Studies conclude that the Faiyum portraits represent Greek settlers in Egypt, victor J. Katz notes that most modern studies conclude that the Greek & Egyptian communities coexisted with little mutual influence. Anthony Lowsted has written extensively on the scope of Apartheid that separated the 2 communities during the Hellenistic and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
4.
Eastern European Time
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Eastern European Time is one of the names of UTC+02,00 time zone,2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. The zone uses daylight saving time, so that it uses UTC+03,00 during the summer, a number of African countries use UTC+02,00 all year long, where it is called Central Africa Time, although Egypt and Libya also use the term Eastern European Time. The following countries, parts of countries, and territories use Eastern European Time all year round, Egypt, since 21 April 2015, used EEST from 1988–2010, Kaliningrad Oblast, since 26 October 2014, also used EET in years 1945 and 1991–2011. Libya, since 27 October 2013, switched from Central European Time, used year-round EET from 1980–1981, 1990–1996 and 1998–2012. Belarus, in years 1922–30 and 1990–2011 In Poland this time was used in years 1918–22, in time of World War II, Germany implemented MET in east occupied territories. Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol used EET as part of Ukraine in years 1991-94 and 1996-2014 Turkey, used EET in years 1910-1978, now uses year round DST timezone called Further-eastern European Time or Turkey Time. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus also uses FET, sometimes, due to its use on Microsoft Windows, FLE Standard Time or GTB Standard Time are used to refer to Eastern European Time. Since political, in addition to geographical, criteria are used in the drawing of time zones. The EET time zone, were it drawn by purely geographical terms, the easternmost part of the Republic of Macedonia, including the city of Strumica. The absolutely easternmost part of Serbia, in the Pirot District, the easternmost town in Norway, Vardø, lies at 30°51 E, which is located east of even of the central meridian of UTC+2, i. e. east of Istanbul and Alexandria. The Norwegian-Russian border is the place where CET borders Moscow time. There is a point at the Norway-Finland-Russia tripoint, near the town of Rayakoski. Belarus is located between 23°11′E and 32°47′E and is fully located with the physical UTC+2 area, but it uses UTC+3 year around. This also includes the city of Anapa, at the westernmost tip of the Krasnodar Krai near the entrance to the Sea of Azov, the Norway–Russia–Finland tri-zone point at Muotkavaara is surrounded by three different times in winter, two in summer. It had three time zones year-around before 2014, two of the four tripoints of Belarus and the tripoint of the Kaliningrad Region are surrounded by three different times in winter
5.
Arabic
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Arabic is a Central Semitic language that was first spoken in Iron Age northwestern Arabia and is now the lingua franca of the Arab world. Arabic is also the language of 1.7 billion Muslims. It is one of six languages of the United Nations. The modern written language is derived from the language of the Quran and it is widely taught in schools and universities, and is used to varying degrees in workplaces, government, and the media. The two formal varieties are grouped together as Literary Arabic, which is the language of 26 states. Modern Standard Arabic largely follows the standards of Quranic Arabic. Much of the new vocabulary is used to denote concepts that have arisen in the post-Quranic era, Arabic has influenced many languages around the globe throughout its history. During the Middle Ages, Literary Arabic was a vehicle of culture in Europe, especially in science, mathematics. As a result, many European languages have borrowed many words from it. Many words of Arabic origin are found in ancient languages like Latin. Balkan languages, including Greek, have acquired a significant number of Arabic words through contact with Ottoman Turkish. Arabic has also borrowed words from languages including Greek and Persian in medieval times. Arabic is a Central Semitic language, closely related to the Northwest Semitic languages, the Ancient South Arabian languages, the Semitic languages changed a great deal between Proto-Semitic and the establishment of the Central Semitic languages, particularly in grammar. Innovations of the Central Semitic languages—all maintained in Arabic—include, The conversion of the suffix-conjugated stative formation into a past tense, the conversion of the prefix-conjugated preterite-tense formation into a present tense. The elimination of other prefix-conjugated mood/aspect forms in favor of new moods formed by endings attached to the prefix-conjugation forms, the development of an internal passive. These features are evidence of descent from a hypothetical ancestor. In the southwest, various Central Semitic languages both belonging to and outside of the Ancient South Arabian family were spoken and it is also believed that the ancestors of the Modern South Arabian languages were also spoken in southern Arabia at this time. To the north, in the oases of northern Hijaz, Dadanitic and Taymanitic held some prestige as inscriptional languages, in Najd and parts of western Arabia, a language known to scholars as Thamudic C is attested
6.
Cairo
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Cairo is the capital and largest city of Egypt. Cairo has long been a center of the political and cultural life. Cairo has the oldest and largest film and music industries in the Arab world, as well as the worlds second-oldest institution of higher learning, Al-Azhar University. Many international media, businesses, and organizations have regional headquarters in the city, with a population of 6.76 million spread over 453 square kilometers, Cairo is by far the largest city in Egypt. An additional 9.5 million inhabitants live in proximity to the city. Cairo, like many other mega-cities, suffers from high levels of pollution, Cairos metro, one of only two in Africa, ranks among the fifteen busiest in the world, with over 1 billion annual passenger rides. The economy of Cairo was ranked first in the Middle East in 2005, Egyptians often refer to Cairo as Maṣr, the Egyptian Arabic name for Egypt itself, emphasizing the citys importance for the country. In Coptic the city is known as Kahire, meaning Place of the Sun, possibly referring to the ancient city of Heliopolis, the location of the ancient city is the suburb of Ain Shams. The ancient Egyptian name for the area is thought to be Khere-Ohe, The Place of Combat, sometimes the city is informally referred to as Kayro. The area around present-day Cairo, especially Memphis, had long been a point of Ancient Egypt due to its strategic location just upstream from the Nile Delta. However, the origins of the city are generally traced back to a series of settlements in the first millennium. Around the turn of the 4th century, as Memphis was continuing to decline in importance and this fortress, known as Babylon, remained the nucleus of the Roman, and, later, the Byzantine, city and is the oldest structure in the city today. It is also situated at the nucleus of the Coptic Orthodox community, many of Cairos oldest Coptic churches, including the Hanging Church, are located along the fortress walls in a section of the city known as Coptic Cairo. Following the Muslim conquest in 640 AD the conqueror Amr ibn As settled to the north of the Babylon in an area became known as al-Fustat. Originally a tented camp Fustat became a permanent settlement and the first capital of Islamic Egypt, in 750, following the overthrow of the Ummayad caliphate by the Abbasids, the new rulers created their own settlement to the northeast of Fustat which became their capital. This was known as al-Askar as it was laid out like a military camp, a rebellion in 869 by Ahmad ibn Tulun led to the abandonment of Al Askar and the building of another settlement, which became the seat of government. This was al-Qattai, to the north of Fustat and closer to the river, Al Qattai was centred around a palace and ceremonial mosque, now known as the Mosque of ibn Tulun. In 905 the Abbasids re-asserted control of the country and their returned to Fustat
7.
Egyptian hieroglyphs
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Egyptian hieroglyphs were the formal writing system used in Ancient Egypt. It combined logographic, syllabic and alphabetic elements, with a total of some 1,000 distinct characters, cursive hieroglyphs were used for religious literature on papyrus and wood. The later hieratic and demotic Egyptian scripts are derived from hieroglyphic writing, the writing system continued to be used throughout the Late Period, as well as the Persian and Ptolemaic periods. Late survivals of hieroglyphic use are found well into the Roman period, with the closing of pagan temples in the 5th century, knowledge of hieroglyphic writing was lost, and the script remained undeciphered throughout the medieval and early modern period. The decipherment of hieroglyphs would only be solved in the 1820s by Jean-François Champollion, the word hieroglyph comes from the Greek adjective ἱερογλυφικός, a compound of ἱερός and γλύφω, supposedly a calque of an Egyptian phrase mdw·w-nṯr gods words. The glyphs themselves were called τὰ ἱερογλυφικὰ γράμματα the sacred engraved letters, the word hieroglyph has become a noun in English, standing for an individual hieroglyphic character. As used in the sentence, the word hieroglyphic is an adjective. Hieroglyphs emerged from the artistic traditions of Egypt. For example, symbols on Gerzean pottery from c.4000 BC have been argued to resemble hieroglyphic writing, proto-hieroglyphic symbol systems develop in the second half of the 4th millennium BC, such as the clay labels of a Predynastic ruler called Scorpion I recovered at Abydos in 1998. The first full sentence written in hieroglyphs so far discovered was found on a seal found in the tomb of Seth-Peribsen at Umm el-Qaab. There are around 800 hieroglyphs dating back to the Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, by the Greco-Roman period, there are more than 5,000. However, given the lack of evidence, no definitive determination has been made as to the origin of hieroglyphics in ancient Egypt. Since the 1990s, and discoveries such as the Abydos glyphs, as writing developed and became more widespread among the Egyptian people, simplified glyph forms developed, resulting in the hieratic and demotic scripts. These variants were more suited than hieroglyphs for use on papyrus. Hieroglyphic writing was not, however, eclipsed, but existed alongside the other forms, especially in monumental, the Rosetta Stone contains three parallel scripts – hieroglyphic, demotic, and Greek. Hieroglyphs continued to be used under Persian rule, and after Alexander the Greats conquest of Egypt, during the ensuing Ptolemaic and Roman periods. It appears that the quality of comments from Greek and Roman writers about hieroglyphs came about, at least in part. Some believed that hieroglyphs may have functioned as a way to distinguish true Egyptians from some of the foreign conquerors, another reason may be the refusal to tackle a foreign culture on its own terms, which characterized Greco-Roman approaches to Egyptian culture generally
8.
Egyptian language
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The language spoken in ancient Egypt was a branch of the Afroasiatic language family. The earliest known complete sentence in the Egyptian language has been dated to about 2690 BCE, making it one of the oldest recorded languages known. Egyptian was spoken until the seventeenth century in the form of Coptic. The national language of modern Egypt is Egyptian Arabic, which gradually replaced Coptic as the language of life in the centuries after the Muslim conquest of Egypt. Coptic is still used as the language of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. It has several hundred fluent speakers today, the Egyptian language belongs to the Afroasiatic language family. Of the other Afroasiatic branches, Egyptian shows its greatest affinities with Semitic, in Egyptian, the Proto-Afroasiatic voiced consonants */d z ð/ developed into pharyngeal ⟨ꜥ⟩ /ʕ/, e. g. Eg. Afroasiatic */l/ merged with Egyptian ⟨n⟩, ⟨r⟩, ⟨ꜣ⟩, and ⟨j⟩ in the dialect on which the language was based. Original */k g ḳ/ palatalize to ⟨ṯ j ḏ⟩ in some environments and are preserved as ⟨k g q⟩ in others, Egyptian has many biradical and perhaps monoradical roots, in contrast to the Semitic preference for triradical roots. Egyptian probably is more archaic in this regard, whereas Semitic likely underwent later regularizations converting roots into the triradical pattern, scholars group the Egyptian language into six major chronological divisions, Archaic Egyptian language Old Egyptian language Middle Egyptian language, characterizing Middle Kingdom. Demotic Coptic The earliest Egyptian glyphs date back to around 3300 BC and these early texts are generally lumped together under the general term Archaic Egyptian. They record names, titles and labels, but a few of them show morphological and syntactic features familiar from later, more complete, Old Egyptian is dated from the oldest known complete sentence, found in the tomb of Seth-Peribsen and dated to around 2690 BCE. It reads, dmḏ. n. f t3wj n z3. f nswt-bjt pr-jb. snj He has united the Two Lands for his son, extensive texts appear from about 2600 BCE. Demotic first appears about 650 BCE and survived as a written language until the fifth century CE and it probably survived in the Egyptian countryside as a spoken language for several centuries after that. Bohairic Coptic is still used by the Coptic Churches, Old, Middle, and Late Egyptian were all written using hieroglyphs and hieratic. Demotic was written using a script derived from hieratic, its appearance is similar to modern Arabic script and is also written from right to left. Coptic is written using the Coptic alphabet, a form of the Greek alphabet with a number of symbols borrowed from Demotic for sounds that did not occur in ancient Greek. Arabic became the language of Egypts political administration soon after the early Muslim conquests in the seventh century, today, Coptic survives as the sacred language of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and the Coptic Catholic Church
9.
Lake Moeris
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Lake Moeris is an ancient lake in the northwest of the Faiyum Oasis,80 km southwest of Cairo, Egypt. In prehistory, it was a lake, with an area estimated to vary between 1,270 km² and 1,700 km². It persists today as a saltwater lake called Birket Qarun. The lakes surface is 43 m below sea-level, and covers about 202 square kilometres and it is a source for tilapia and other fish from the local area. The prehistoric mammal Moeritherium was found in this area, when the Mediterranean Sea was a hot dry hollow near the end of the Messinian Salinity Crisis in the late Miocene, Faiyum was a dry hollow, and the Nile flowed past it at the bottom of a canyon. After the Mediterranean reflooded at the end of the Miocene, the Nile canyon became an arm of the sea reaching inland further than Aswan, over geological time that sea arm gradually filled with silt and became the Nile valley. Eventually, the Nile valley bed silted up high enough to let the Nile in flood overflow into the Faiyum hollow, the lake is first recorded from about 3000 BC, around the time of Menes. However, for the most part it would only be filled with flood waters. The lake was bordered by settlements, and the town of Shedet grew up on the south where the higher ground created a ridge. In 2300 BC, the waterway from the Nile to the lake was widened and deepened to make a canal which is now known as the Bahr Yussef. This project was started by Amenemhat III, or perhaps by his father Senusret III and this canal fed into the lake. This was meant to serve three purposes, control the flooding of the Nile, regulate the level of the Nile during dry seasons. There is evidence of ancient Egyptian pharaohs of the twelfth dynasty using the lake of Faiyum as a reservoir to store surpluses of water for use during the dry periods. The lake was abandoned due to the nearest branch of the Nile shrinking from 230 BC. The name Moeris is a Greek version from Egyptian mer-wer ‘great canal’, Amenemhat III, who started this project was also known as Moeris. In ancient Egypt, the lake was also variously called ‘the lake’, ‘pure lake’, during the Middle Kingdom, the whole area around the lake was often referred to as mer-wer as well. Similarly, the Late Egyptian word Piom ‘sea’, originally restricted to Lake Moeris, came to be used to refer to the city of Crocodilopolis, Bahr Yussef Faiyum Faiyum Governorate Faiyum Oasis Moeritherium - an ancient relative of elephants whose fossils were found in the region
10.
Faiyum Oasis
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The Faiyum Oasis is a depression or basin in the desert immediately to the west of the Nile south of Cairo. The extent of the area is estimated at between 1,270 km² and 1700 km². The basin floor comprises fields watered by a channel of the Nile, the lake was freshwater in prehistory but is today a saltwater lake. It is a source for tilapia and other fish for the local area, differing from typical oases, whose fertility depends on water obtained from springs, the cultivated land in the Faiyum is formed of Nile mud brought down by the Bahr Yussef,24 km in length. Between the beginning of Bahr Yussef at El Lahun to its end at the city of Faiyum, the drainage water flows into Lake Moeris. When the Mediterranean Sea was a hot dry hollow near the end of the Messinian Salinity Crisis in the late Miocene, Faiyum was a dry hollow, and the Nile flowed past it at the bottom of a canyon. After the Mediterranean reflooded at the end of the Miocene, the Nile canyon became an arm of the sea reaching inland further than Aswan, over geological time that sea arm gradually filled with silt and became the Nile valley. Eventually the Nile valley bed silted up high enough to let the Nile in flood overflow into the Faiyum hollow, the lake is first recorded from about 3000 BC, around the time of Menes. However, for the most part it would only be filled with flood waters. The lake was bordered by settlements, and the town of Crocodilopolis grew up on the south where the higher ground created a ridge. In 2300 BC, the waterway from the Nile to the lake was widened and deepened to make a canal which is now known as the Bahr Yussef. This canal fed into the lake and this was meant to serve three purposes, control the flooding of the Nile, regulate the water level of the Nile during dry seasons, and serve the surrounding area with irrigation. There is evidence of ancient Egyptian pharaohs of the twelfth dynasty using the lake of Faiyum as a reservoir to store surpluses of water for use during the dry periods. The lake was abandoned due to the nearest branch of the Nile dwindling in size from 230 BC. Faiyum was known to the ancient Egyptians as the twenty-first nome of Upper Egypt, in ancient Egyptian times, its capital was Sh-d-y-t, called by the Greeks Crocodilopolis, and refounded by Ptolemy II as Arsinoe. Faiyum became one of the breadbaskets of the Roman world, the Egyptians continued their practice of burying their dead, despite the Roman preference for cremation. Preserved by the dry environment, these Faiyum portraits make up the richest body of portraiture to have survived from antiquity. They provide us with a window into a society of peoples of mixed origins —Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Syrians, Libyans
11.
Nile
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The Nile is a major north-flowing river in northeastern Africa. It is generally regarded as the longest river in the world, in particular, the Nile is the primary water source of Egypt and Sudan. The Nile has two tributaries, the White Nile and Blue Nile. The White Nile is considered to be the headwaters and primary stream of the Nile itself, the Blue Nile, however, is the source of most of the water and silt. The White Nile is longer and rises in the Great Lakes region of central Africa and it flows north through Tanzania, Lake Victoria, Uganda and South Sudan. The Blue Nile begins at Lake Tana in Ethiopia and flows into Sudan from the southeast, the two rivers meet just north of the Sudanese capital of Khartoum. The northern section of the river flows north almost entirely through the Sudanese desert to Egypt, then ends in a large delta, Egyptian civilization and Sudanese kingdoms have depended on the river since ancient times. Most of the population and cities of Egypt lie along those parts of the Nile valley north of Aswan, in the ancient Egyptian language, the Nile is called Ḥpī or Iteru, meaning river. In Coptic, the words piaro or phiaro meaning the river come from the ancient name. The English name Nile and the Arabic names en-Nîl and an-Nîl both derive from the Latin Nilus and the Ancient Greek Νεῖλος, beyond that, however, the etymology is disputed. One possible etymology derives it from a Semitic Nahal, meaning river, the standard English names White Nile and Blue Nile, to refer to the rivers source, derive from Arabic names formerly applied only to the Sudanese stretches which meet at Khartoum. Above Khartoum, the Nile is also known as the White Nile, at Khartoum the river is joined by the Blue Nile. The White Nile starts in equatorial East Africa, and the Blue Nile begins in Ethiopia, both branches are on the western flanks of the East African Rift. The drainage basin of the Nile covers 3,254,555 square kilometers, the source of the Nile is sometimes considered to be Lake Victoria, but the lake has feeder rivers of considerable size. It is either the Ruvyironza, which emerges in Bururi Province, Burundi, or the Nyabarongo, the two feeder rivers meet near Rusumo Falls on the Rwanda-Tanzania border. Gish Abay is reportedly the place where the water of the first drops of the Blue Nile develop. The Nile leaves Lake Nyanza at Ripon Falls near Jinja, Uganda and it flows north for some 130 kilometers, to Lake Kyoga. For the remaining part it flows westerly through the Murchison Falls until it reaches the very northern shores of Lake Albert where it forms a significant river delta
12.
Wadi El Rayan
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Wadi El Rayan is a unique nature protectorate in Faiyum Governorate, Egypt, under the supervision of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency. The valley of Wadi El-Rayan is an area of 1759km2, 113km2 of which are the water body of the Wadi El Rayan lakes. It is located about 65km southwest of Faiyum city and 80km west of the Nile River, the Wadi has been used for man-made lakes from agricultural drainage which has made a reserve of the two separate Wadi El Rayan Lakes. The reserve is composed of a 50. 90km2 upper lake, among the springs, there are three sulphur springs at the southern side of the lower lake, with extensive mobile sand dunes. Wadi El Rayan Waterfalls are considered to be the largest waterfalls in Egypt, at the south and southeast of the springs is Gabal Manqueer Al Rayan, where marine fossils and archeological remains are found. Gabal Madwera, near the lake, is known for its extensive dune formations. The vegetation is confined to areas around springs and at the base of large dunes. The vegetation cover is made of 13 species of perennial plants, Wadi El Rayan accommodates one of the worlds few remaining populations of the endangered slender-horned gazelle. The dorcas gazelle is found in the area in small numbers. There are 11 species of reptiles,9 species of mammals,13 species of resident birds, bahr Yussef Crocodilopolis Faiyum Fayum alphabet Faiyum Governorate Faiyum mummy portraits Lake Moeris Roman Egypt
13.
Faiyumi
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The Faiyumi is a breed of chicken originating in Egypt. Faiyumis are an old breed in their native region, and are named for the Faiyum Governorate southwest of Cairo. Representations and descriptions of domestic fowl first appear during Egypts New Kingdom, king Tutankhamen had pet Sri Lanka junglefowl procured through the ancient cinnamon trade. Fayoumi chickens are believed to be descendants of hybrids with domestic fowl that have adapted for life in thorn palm forests. They have been present in the West since at least the 1940s, however, they are not officially recognized for exhibition by the American Poultry Association, and are not included in the Standard of Perfection. With their upright tails and forward jutting breast and neck, they are likened to a roadrunner. They are a fowl, with roosters weighing in around 2 kilograms. They appear only in a single variety, in roosters, the plumage is silver-white on the head, neck, back and saddle, with the rest in a black and white barring. Hens have heads and necks in the hue, with the rest barred. Faiyumis have a comb, earlobes, and wattles are red and moderately large. They have dark horn colored beaks, and slate blue skin and their appearance is remarkably similar to the silver variety of the Campine breed of Belgium, and the Campine may be descended from a Faiyumi-like chicken brought north in Europe by the Romans. Faiyumis are a breed, and particularly well suited to hot climates. The breed, through poultry genetics research and anecdotal reports, is thought to be resistant to viral and bacterial infections. They are also very good foragers, and if left to their own devices on a free range basis they can fend for themselves in a nearly feral manner, Faiyumi hens are good layers of small, off-white eggs. They are not given to broodiness as pullets, but can be when they reach two or three years of age, the breed is fast to mature, with hens laying by four and half months, and cockerels crowing at five or six weeks. Storeys Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds,210 MAS MoCA Way, North Adams MA01247, Storey Publishing
14.
Fayum mummy portraits
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Mummy portraits or Fayum mummy portraits is the modern term given to a type of naturalistic painted portrait on wooden boards attached to Egyptian mummies from the Coptic period. They belong to the tradition of painting, one of the most highly regarded forms of art in the Classical world. In fact, the Fayum portraits are the large body of art from that tradition to have survived. Mummy portraits have been found across Egypt, but are most common in the Faiyum Basin, particularly from Hawara in the Fayum Basin, Faiyum Portraits is generally thought of as a stylistic, rather than a geographic, description. While painted cartonnage mummy cases date back to times, the Faiyum mummy portraits were an innovation dating to the Coptic period at the time of the Roman occupation of Egypt. They date to the Roman period, from the late 1st century BC or the early 1st century AD onwards and it is not clear when their production ended, but recent research suggests the middle of the 3rd century. The portraits covered the faces of bodies that were mummified for burial, extant examples indicate that they were mounted into the bands of cloth that were used to wrap the bodies. Almost all have now been detached from the mummies and they usually depict a single person, showing the head, or head and upper chest, viewed frontally. In terms of tradition, the images clearly derive more from Graeco-Roman traditions than Egyptian ones. Two groups of portraits can be distinguished by technique, one of encaustic paintings, the former are usually of higher quality. About 900 mummy portraits are known at present, the majority were found in the necropoleis of Faiyum. Due to the hot dry Egyptian climate, the paintings are very well preserved. The Italian explorer Pietro della Valle, on a visit to Saqqara-Memphis in 1615, was the first European to discover and he transported some mummies with portraits to Europe, which are now in the Albertinum. Although interest in Ancient Egypt steadily increased after that period, further finds of mummy portraits did not become known before the early 19th century, the provenance of these first new finds is unclear, they may come from Saqqara as well, or perhaps from Thebes. In 1820, the Baron of Minotuli acquired several mummy portraits for a German collector, in 1827, Léon de Laborde brought two portraits, supposedly found in Memphis, to Europe, one of which can today be seen at the Louvre, the other in the British Museum. Ippolito Rosellini, a member of Jean-François Champollions 1828/29 expedition to Egypt and it is so similar to de Labordes specimens that it is thought to be from the same source. During the 1820s, the British Consul General to Egypt, Henry Salt, sent several further portraits to Paris and London. Some of them were long considered portraits of the family of the Theban Archon Pollios Soter, a character known from written sources
15.
Cairo Governorate
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Cairo Governorate is the most populated of the governorates of Egypt. Its capital, the city of Cairo, is the capital of Egypt. Because it is urbanized, the governorate is considered a city proper. However, there are uninhabited desert areas, parts of the governorate were separated in April 2008 to form the Helwan Governorate. The Cairo Governorate is divided into 41 administrative divisions, called qism in Arabic, uN-Habitat is promoting alternative methods of transportation with the aim of relieving these issues. In a program began on August 28,2012, the European Union invested 40 million Euros on upgrading the infrastructure of informal areas in Cairo Governorate. Greater Cairo Cairo Governorate Official website City subdivisions List of previous governors
16.
Alexandria Governorate
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Alexandria Governorate is one of the governorates of Egypt. It is located in the part of the country, directly on the Mediterranean Sea. Along with Cairo and Giza, Alexandria is one of three governorates in the country that are also municipalities, the governorate capital is the city of Alexandria, the second largest city in Egypt. Alexandria governorate lies along the Mediterranean coast and stretch for about 70 km northwest of the Nile Delta, the governorate is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea in the north, El Behera governorate in the south and the east and Matrouh governorate in the west. The total area size of Alexandria governorate is almost 2818 km2, Alexandria has a unique geographical location and a mild climate. It is also considered an industrial governorate where 40% of Egyptian industries are concentrated, especially chemicals, food, spinning and weaving as well as petrol industries, the bond between Egypt and the Hellenic Empire dates from centuries before Alexander the Great. The crushing victory of Alexander the Great over the Persians in Asia gave him control over the Eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. As Alexander took control of all ports and harbour of the Eastern Mediterranean, on entering Alexandria, the Persian ruler of the city surrendered without resistance and Alexander entered the city in triumph. Travelling further south, he reached the City of Menf where he was given a welcome by the poor farmers who were euphoric at the ousting of the Persians. Alexander was ceremoniously crowned in a Pharaonic ceremony as the Son of Amun and ordered the construction of the city of Alexandria. As Alexander the Great rides along the Mediterranean Coast, a plot of land between the Mediterranean Sea and Lake Mariout catches his attention, with its unique features and intrinsic peculiarity, the spot was ideal for founding a great city of the most modern style back then. To the south was Lake Mariout, another natural border, which fortified the city defences. Alexander was firmly persuaded of the importance of building a city bearing his name to immortalise his memory for good, at the outskirts of the area to the west was the Rhacotis Village, which was populated with fishermen. Faithfully conceived by Alexander the Great, the idea was conveyed to Denocrates, the Greek architect, the name of Denocrates remains closely associated with the history of Alexandria since he started planning the citys layout in 331 B. C. The genius of this became evident as he blueprinted plans for roads, squares. Denocrates was born in the island of Rhodes in the Mediterranean Sea, such a cityscape was widespread across Greek cities in the fifth Century B. C. Denocrates also thought of building a bridge linking the mainland with the island, later on called Pharos, Alexandria was divided into five quarters, bearing the first five letters of the Greek Alphabet. Alexandria lays north-west of the Nile delta and stretches along a land strip between the Mediterranean Sea and Lake Maryut
17.
Port Said Governorate
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Port Said Governorate is one of the Canal Zone governorates of Egypt. It is located in the part of the country, on the Mediterranean Sea at the northern gate of the Suez Canal. Its capital is the city of Port Said, it is the home of the Suez Canal Authority headquarters and it is urban with 98. 2% of the area populated. Port Said Governorate also includes Port Fuad, in 2015 a huge natural gas reserve was discovered and was described as the largest ever found in the Mediterranean Sea. It was found off the coast of Port Said, Egypt now has one of the largest areas of natural gas and Italian company, ENI has been contracted to work on the natural gas liquefaction for Egypt. It was welcome news as Egypt has long suffered an energy crisis, the New Suez Canal project launched in 2015 included dredging of the East Port Said Canal. Port Said Port Fuad At the 2006 Census, there were 570,768 people,2015 estimates put that figure at 666,599. With an urbanization rate of 100%, the Port Said Governorate is one of the most urbanized in the country, along with Cairo, in February,2012, more than 70 people died in the Port Said Stadium Riot after a soccer match. Social unrest in early 2013 continued for at least two weeks, while protesting, on March 5,2013, protesters set fire to the governorates headquarters and several people were injured. In October,2016 Egyptians protested the increase in their rent on apartments, one official and several residents were arrested. Port Said Governorate is a transit point for trade, importing and exporting millions of tons of goods each year. Tourism is also promoted for the region, there are several museums in this area. For cultural tourism one may want to visit the Port Said National Museum of Antiquities which opened in 1987 and is located at the confluence of the Suez Canal waters and the Mediterranean Sea. It houses about 9,000 artifacts from all eras, ranging from the Pharaonic, Greek, Roman, the Military Museum of Port Said, established in 1964, commemorates the 1956 the tripartite aggression on the city. It features armory and military artifacts, equipment used in the wars fought between 1956 -1967 and in 1973, al-Nasr Museum of Modern Art in Port Said opened on December 25,1995 and includes artwork by Egyptian artists in various branches of Fine Art. This makes it a favorite with tourists, nearby, is the Suez Canal Authority building built on the banks of Port Said at the start of the project. The lighthouse and jetties at Port Said, located at the terminus of the Suez canal. The lighthouse is a monolith 180 feet high, in the construction 120,000 tons of Teil hydraulic lime were used
18.
Suez Governorate
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Suez Governorate is one of the governorates of Egypt. It is located in the part of the country and is coterminous with the city of Suez. It is situated north of the Gulf of Suez, according to population estimates from 2015 all 622,859 residents of the governorate live in urban areas. With an urbanization rate of 100% the Suez Governorate is one of the most urbanized in the country, along with Cairo, natural resources in the Suez Governorate include limestone, clay, coal, petroleum, marble, and lime. The chief exports of Suez are papayas, ein El-Sokhna, a well known recreational and medical destination. Moses springs Judaic Hill at El-Khoor In 1975, the Suez Public Free Zone was established and it is divided between two main locations, Port Tewfik and Adabeya. Suez Canal Suez crisis Official website Ministry of Trade and Industry Free Zones site
19.
Ismailia Governorate
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Ismailia Governorate is one of the Canal Zone governorates of Egypt. Located in the part of the country, its capital is the city of Ismailia. It was named after Ismail Pasha, who as Ottoman Viceroy of Egypt and it is located between the other two Canal governorates, Port Said Governorate, in the Northern part of Egypt and Suez Governorate. According to population estimates from 2015 the majority of residents in the live in rural areas. Out of an estimated 1,178,641 people residing in the governorate,643,778 people live in areas as opposed to only 534,863 in urban areas. Instead this festival has been celebrating its annual events in Ismailia Governorate and it is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Ismailia Governorate, The National Cinema Center and other sponsors. The Ismailia Governorate is on the banks of the Suez Canal and its Ismailia Canal extends from the Nile River near Cairo, to the Suez Canal at the city of Ismailia, the Ismailia Canal was built to provide fresh water to workers during the building of the Suez Canal. The Suez Canal Authority headquarters is located in Ismailia, from 1967 to 1970, Ismailia became a war zone and was damaged in the conflict with Israel. There are several official fishing landing sites in Ismailia, one is at Lake Timsah and the other at Bitter Lake. After a successful SIP from 1992-1997, the United Nations expanded the project to include the entire Governorate of Ismailia calling it SGIP and its goal is to work with local partners to improve the communities in Ismailia
20.
Kafr El Sheikh Governorate
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Kafr El Sheikh Governorate is one of the governorates of Egypt. It lies in the part of the country, along the western branch of the Nile in the Nile Delta. Its capital is the city of Kafr El Sheikh, according to population estimates from 2015 the majority of residents in the governorate live in rural areas, with an urbanization rate of only 23. 1%. Out of an estimated 3,172,753 people residing in the governorate,2,441,246 people live in areas as opposed to only 731,507 in urban areas. Kafr El Sheikh Governorate, which was part of the Gharbia Governorate, was created in 1949. It was originally named Fuadiyah in honor of King Fuad I of Egypt, after the 1952 Revolution and the subsequent abolition of the monarchy, the governorate took the name of its capital city Kafr El Sheikh. This name, adopted in 1955, means the village of the chief, the area occupied today by the Kafr El Sheikh Governorate has been inhabited since ancient times. The capital of Lower Egypt, called Buto, is located at present-day Tell El Faraain, lake Burullus is located in the north of the Kafr El Sheikh governorate
21.
Gharbia Governorate
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Gharbia Governorate is one of the governorates of Egypt. It is located in the north of the country, south of Kafr El Sheikh Governorate and its capital is Tanta, which is 90 km north of Cairo, and 120 km south east of Alexandria. The largest city in Gharbia is El Mahalla El Kubra, the total area of Gharbia governorate is 25,400 km2, making it the tenth-largest governorate of Egypt. According to population estimates from 2015 the majority of residents in the live in rural areas. Out of an estimated 4,751.865 people residing in the governorate,3,324,630 people live in areas as opposed to only 1,427,235 in urban areas. El Mahalla El Kubra Kafr El Zayat Samanoud Tanta Zifta El Santa Kotoor Basyoun Mohamed Salah Gharbia Governorate Official website
22.
Dakahlia Governorate
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Dakahlia Governorate is an Egyptian governorate lying northeast of Cairo. Its area is approximately 3,500 km² and it has a population of approximately 6,000,000, according to population estimates from 2015, the majority of residents in the governorate live in rural areas, with an urbanization rate of 28. 2%. Out of an estimated 5,949,001 people residing in the governorate,4,271,428 people live in areas as opposed to 1,677,573 in urban areas. The Urology and Nephrology Center of Mansoura University Faculty of Medicine also features a renowned kidney center, under the management of Dr. Mohamed A. Ghoneim
23.
Sharqia Governorate
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Sharqia Governorate is the 3rd most populous of the governorates of Egypt. Located in the part of the country, its capital is the city of Zagazig. According to population estimates from 2015 the majority of residents in the live in rural areas. Out of an estimated 6,485,412 people residing in the governorate,4,987,707 people live in areas as opposed to only 1,497,705 in urban areas. According to the Governing Authority for Investment and Free Zones the governorate is home to five industrial zones, sharqia is divided into 13 administrative divisions and 15 cities,2 districts,105 rural local units, and 3885 minor villages
24.
Monufia Governorate
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Monufia Governorate is one of the governorates of Egypt. It is located in the part of the country in the Nile Delta, to the south of Gharbia governorate. The governorate is named after Menouf, an ancient city which was the capital of the governorate until 1826, the current governor is doctor Ashraf Helal. According to population estimates from 2015 the majority of residents in the live in rural areas. Out of an estimated 3,941,293 people residing in the governorate,3,128,460 people live in areas as opposed to only 812,833 in urban areas. The capital of the Monufia Governorate is the city of Shibin El Kom, the main cities of the governorate are Quesna, Tala, Bagour, Menouf, Ashmoun and Sers El Lyan. It is a mainly an agricultural governorate, other than Shibin El Kom, the governorate had four other administrative divisions which are Quesna, Tala, Menouf and Ashmoun. In 1942, El Shohada became a new division and included parts from Shibin El Kom. In 1947, Bagour was created to encompass regions from Menouf, Ashmoun, Quesna and Shibin El Kom. In 1955, five villages were taken from Tala and redistributed to Tanta. in 1960, Berket El Sabee was established and consisted of towns and villages of Tala, Quesna. In 1975, Sers El Lyan became a city rather than a village after it was separated from Menouf, in 1991, the Sadat City was annexed to Monufia being its only region west of the Rosetta branch. In the final round of the 2012 Egyptian presidential election, Monufia had the highest voter turnout rate of all governorates as well as the most overwhelming support for candidate Ahmed Shafik. The governorate is famous for the production of crops like cotton, maize and wheat as well as crops such as potatoes. Agricultural land is irrigated with water from the Rosetta and Damietta branches of the Nile, agriculture is generally the main activity of the population due to the fertile land in the Nile Delta. Monufia Governorate is particularly known for being the birthplace of two Egyptian presidents, Anwar Sadat, born in Mit Abu El Kom and Hosni Mubarak, born in Kafr El Meselha. In 1981, the Basic Village Service Program, under the auspices of USAID, had water, road. Official Website Arabic Official Website English
25.
Qalyubia Governorate
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Qalyubia Governorate is one of the governorates of Egypt. Located in Lower Egypt, it is situated north of Cairo in the Nile Delta region, banha and several other settlements blend into the neighboring Cairo Governorate, as a result, parts of Qalyubia are generally considered to form part of the Greater Cairo metropolitan area. According to population estimates from 2015 the majority of residents in the live in rural areas. Out of an estimated 5,105,972 people residing in the governorate,2,825,045 people live in areas as opposed to only 2,280,927 in urban areas. The most important of these crops include maize, cotton, wheat, citrus fruits, bananas, oranges, Qalyubia is also the leading Egyptian governorate in the production of poultry and eggs. In 1981, the Basic Village Service Program had several projects going on in the Qalyubia Governorate. In a program began on August 28,2012, the European Union invested 40 million Euros on upgrading the infrastructure of informal areas in Qalyubia Governorate
26.
Damietta Governorate
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Damietta Governorate is one of the governorates of Egypt. It is located in the part of the country, and has a population of over 1 million. Its capital is the city of Damietta, Damietta is famous for its guava farms, as well as the palm trees that cover the coast from Ras El Bar in the east to Gamasa in the west. The governorate exports millions of trees to many countries every year, including Greece. Damietta also produces wheat, maize, cotton, rice, potatoes, lemon and it is also famous for its sweet industry, sardine packing, and Domiati cheese. Ras El Bar, one of the oldest summer resorts in Egypt, is located at the point where The Nile meets the Mediterranean Sea. According to population estimates from 2015 the majority of residents in the live in rural areas. The governorates area is 1.029 km² or about 5% of the Deltas area, the inhabited area is about 589.2 km². Its population – according to a 1999 census – was 953,430, the average rate of population growth is 2. 09% per year. The governorate consists of 4 subdivisions,10 cities,35 local village units,59 villages and 722 sub-villages, the subdivisons are Damietta, Faraskur, El Zarqa and Kafr Saad. The governorate includes 7 colleges and institutes,19 professional training centers, the city of Damietta is famous for its skilled carpenters and furniture. Their products are sold in Egypt, and throughout the Middle East, Europe, 80% of the governorates income is related to furniture
27.
Beheira Governorate
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Beheira Governorate is a coastal governorate in Egypt. Located in the part of the country in the Nile Delta. Beheira Governorate enjoys an important strategical place, west of the Rosetta branch of the Nile and it comprises four important highways, namely the Cairo-Alexandria desert road, the Cairo agricultural road, the international road and the circular road. Beheira Governorate is also home to a number of the most important Coptic monasteries in Wadi El Natrun, beheira consists of 13 centers and 14 cities, and contains important industries such as cotton, chemicals, carpets, electricity and fishing. In 2017, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi appointed the first female governor in the history for Beheiras Governorate. According to population estimates from 2015 the majority of residents in the live in rural areas. Out of an estimated 5,804,262 people residing in the governorate,4,674,346 people live in areas as opposed to only 1,129,916 in urban areas
28.
Giza Governorate
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Giza Governorate is one of the governorates of Egypt. It is in the center of the country, situated on the west bank of the Nile River opposite Cairo and its capital is the city of Giza. The Giza Governorate is also home to the Great Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza, according to population estimates from 2015 the majority of residents in the governorate live in urban areas, with an urbanization rate of 58. 6%. Out of an estimated 7,585,115 people residing in the governorate,4,446,805 people lived in areas as opposed to only 3,138,310 in rural areas. It is located in the Giza pyramid complex, in a program that began on August 28,2012, the European Union invested 40 million Euros on upgrading the infrastructure of informal areas in Giza Governorate. Media related to Giza Governorate at Wikimedia Commons
29.
Beni Suef Governorate
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Beni Suef is one of the governorates of Egypt. It is situated in the center of the country and this governorates capital is the city of Beni Suef, located about 120 km south of Cairo on the west bank of the Nile River. The area is known in Egypt for its cement factories. The nearby Meidum pyramid is the prominent tourist attraction in the area. Due to different ways of transcribing the spelling it can also be known as Beni Suef, according to population estimates from 2015 the majority of residents in the governorate live in rural areas, with an urbanization rate of only 23. 2%. Out of an estimated 2,856,812 people residing in the governorate,2,193,871 people live in areas as opposed to only 662,941 in urban areas
30.
Minya Governorate
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Minya Governorate is one of the governorates of Upper Egypt. Its capital city, Minya is located on the bank of the Nile River. The name may originate from the citys name in Egyptian Menat Khufu. According to population estimates from 2015 the majority of residents in the live in rural areas. Out of an estimated 5,156,702 people residing in the governorate,4,183,284 people live in areas as opposed to only 973,418 in urban areas. The capital of Minya governorate is the city of Minya, the governorate is one of the most highly populated governorates of Upper Egypt. Its remarkable history, including Ancient Egyptian, Hellenistic, Roman, dehnet, Fraser Tombs, Sharuna, and Zawyet el-Maiyitin comprise monuments dating back to the Old Kingdom. The village of Bani Hasan al Shurruq houses 390 rock-cut decorated tombs, the Speos Artemidos is nearby, and hosts temples built by Queen Hatshepsut. Akhetaten was built by Pharaoh Akhenaten and dedicated to the god Aten, Akhenaten lived there in isolation with his beautiful wife, Nefertiti, and daughters, devoting himself to the monotheistic religion that he preached. The glorious remains of the palaces, temples and tombs still exist today, other significant archaeological sites in the governorate of Minya include Deir Abu Hinis, Deir el-Bersha, El-Sheikh Said, and Tuna el-Gebel. El Ashmunein was the capital of the region during this period and it was the main center of worship of the god Thoth. Today, the ruins of a Greek temple, similar to the Parthenon, the tomb and chapel of Petosiris are found near the modern village of Tuna el-Gebel. Antinopolis was built in 130 A. D. by the Roman emperor Hadrian in memory of his favorite cup-bearer Antinous, the Monastery of the Virgin Mary at Gebel el-Teir is an important Christian site near the city of Samalut. Its church was built by Empress Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, in 328, oxyrhynchus was an important administrative center during the Hellenistic Period, and remains an important archaeological source for papyri from the Byzantine Egypt. Maghagha hosts the mosque of the famous Muslim Zayid ibn al Mugharah, today, Minya governorate has the highest concentration of Coptic Christians of 50% of the total population. There are also a number of monasteries in the region. In 1981, the Basic Village Service Program of USAID, had several water, in 2013, The United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security helped farmers in Minya by doing consultation work with them and taking soil samples. The national holiday of the Minya governorate is on 18 March and it commemorates those who were executed by the British at Deir Mawas on 18 March 1919
31.
Asyut Governorate
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Asyut Governorate is one of the governorates of Egypt. The capital of the governorate is the city of Asyut, the name of Asyut is derived from early Egyptian Zawty, late Egyptian Səyáwt into Coptic Syowt. According to population estimates from 2015 the majority of residents in the live in rural areas. Out of an estimated 4,245,215 people residing in the governorate,3,119,112 people live in areas as opposed to only 1,126,103 in urban areas. Asyut governorate has a population of over 4 million people, with a significant Coptic presence, in 1914, it had the second largest proportion of Copts in Egypt, where they made up 20. 7% of the population. However it is likely that figure is underestimated, since the Church claims up to 48. 5% while the population are Sunni Muslims. Evangelical religions had significant growth in some districts of Asyut, as evidenced in 1907 census data, Muslims and Christians have lived together in Asyut and at times there have been clashes. In July 2013, a number of Christians took to the streets to protest Muslim extremism in Asyut. A very conservative society, which is Asyut, stopped the pageant
32.
Sohag Governorate
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Sohag Governorate is one of the governorates of Egypt. It is located in the part of the country. Since 1960, its capital has been the city of Sohag, prior to that, the capital was the city of Girga and the name of the governorate was Girga Governorate. According to population estimates from 2015 the majority of residents in the live in rural areas. Out of an estimated 4,603,861 people residing in the governorate,3,618,543 people live in areas as opposed to only 985,318 in urban areas. Directions of Change in Rural Egypt, Oxford University Press,2004
33.
Qena Governorate
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Qena Governorate is one of the governorates of Egypt. Located in the part of the country, it covers a stretch of the Nile valley. Its capital is the city of Qena, according to population estimates from 2015 the majority of residents in the governorate live in rural areas, with an urbanization rate of only 19. 7%. Out of an estimated 3,045,504 people residing in the governorate,2,445,051 people live in areas as opposed to only 600,453 in urban areas. Contra Latopolis Djerty El Qala Hefat Hut-Sekhem Khenoboskion Madu Per-Hathor Shanhur Tantere Tukh Qena Governorate Official Qena Governorate website
34.
Aswan Governorate
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Aswan Governorate is one of the governorates of Egypt. The southernmost governorate in Upper Egypt, its capital is Aswan, the Aswan Governorate borders Qena to the north, Red Sea Governorate to the east, New Valley Governorate to the west, and Sudans Northern state to the south. It has a population of 1,394,687 inhabitants, according to population estimates from 2015 the majority of residents in the governorate live in rural areas, with an urbanization rate of only 42. 3%. Out of an estimated 1,431,488 people residing in the governorate,826,543 people live in areas as opposed to only 604,945 in urban areas
35.
Luxor Governorate
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Luxor Governorate has been one of Egypts governorates since 7 December 2009, when former president Hosni Mubarak announced its separation from the Qena Governorate. It is located 635 km south of Cairo and it is currently the smallest governorate in Egypt, spanning approximately 5 km from north to south, and 1.5 km from east to west, and lies in Upper Egypt along the Nile. The city of Luxor is the capital of the Luxor governorate, the government is studying the possibility of extending the boundaries of the governorate to include the neighboring towns of Armant and Esna. The emblem of Luxor represents the bust of Tutankhamun on board of an Ancient Egyptian canoe boat, cruising in the Nile, with an obelisk, the governorates total area is 55 km2, representing 0. 24% of the countrys area. At the 2012 census, the population of the area which in 2009 was formed into the new Luxor Governorate was 1,064,000 people,47. 4% of them lived in urban areas, while 52. 6% lived in rural areas. The annual population growth rate is 18.2 per thousand, population estimates from 2015 puts the same figure at 1,147,058 with an urbanization rate of 37. 8%
36.
Red Sea Governorate
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Red Sea Governorate is one of the 27 governorates of Egypt. Located between the Nile and the Red Sea in the southeast of the country, its southern border forms part of Egypts border with Sudan and its capital and largest city is Hurghada. The Red Sea Governorate is bordered on the north by the Suez Governorate, to the east by the Red Sea, in the south it is bordered by Sudans Red Sea State. It contains the disputed territory of the Halaib triangle, including the Siyal Islands, in addition to the administrative center of Hurghada, about 60,000 residents live in the cities of Ras Gharib, Safaga, El Qoseir, Marsa Alam and Bir Shalatein. The population in 2006 was 288,233 inhabitants, of more than 275,000 lived in a few towns along the coast. In general, the structure of the provinces cities and tourist areas is concentrated along the coast. Since the early 80s, Hurghada has been a destination for beach lovers. Tourism is also growing in the cities of Al-Qusair, Safaga. In addition to the hotels and tourist establishments in the centers are located in Al-Bahr al-Ahmar 2 official nature reserves are to be developed for tourism or. The Wadi al-Gamal National Park at Hamata near the town of Marsa Alam, besides a strong tourism industry, there is also a large offshore fishing industry. The area, which extends over the province, is rich in minerals, the Ras Gharib region contains 70% of Egypts oil production
37.
New Valley Governorate
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New Valley Governorate is one of the governorates of Egypt. It is located in the part of the country, in Egypts Western Desert, part of the Sahara Desert – between the Nile, northern Sudan, and southeastern Libya. Consisting of roughly a third of Egypts area, the New Valley Governorate is the countrys largest governorate, the capital is at the Kharga Oasis. According to population estimates from 2015 the majority of residents in the live in rural areas. Out of an estimated 225,416 people residing in the governorate,117,180 people live in areas as opposed to only 108,236 in urban areas. Protesters set fire to police stations and the NDP - National Democratic Party building, multiple deaths were reported in addition to hundreds of injuries amid claims that the police opened fire on protesters in Kharga Oasis with live ammunition. Kharga Farafra Dakhla Baris Manufacturing of palm dates, tourism and Safaris Agricultural activities New Valley Project Gilf Kebir Governorates of Egypt
38.
Matrouh Governorate
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Matrouh Governorate is one of the governorates of Egypt. Located in the part of the country, it borders Libya. The interior of the Matrouh Governorate is part of Egypts Western Desert, including the Siwa Oasis, in the center of the Governorate is the Qattara Depression, descending to 133 metres below sea level. Marsa Matrouh is the ancient Paraetonium and it was the westernmost city of Aegyptus as defined in the Hellenistic period. The city of Apis, some 18 km to the west of Paraetonium, marked the boundary to Libycus Nomus, Matrouh Governorate contains many historical sites related to World War II. The latter include El Alamein, which comprises cemeteries of fallen soldiers from Axis, an estimated 16 million mines, planted by the Europeans during the world wars, still hinder development of most of the governorate, and are constantly being removed. The province has been described as religiously conservative, according to population estimates from 2015 the majority of residents in the governorate live in urban areas, with an urbanization rate of 70. 6%. Out of an estimated 447,846 people residing in the governorate,316,005 people live in areas as opposed to only 131,841 in rural areas
39.
North Sinai Governorate
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North Sinai Governorate is one of the governorates of Egypt. It is located in the part of the country. It is bordered in the north by the Mediterranean Sea, in the south by South Sinai Governorate, in the west by Port Said, Ismailia, and Suez Governorates and its capital is the city of Arish. A governorate is administered by a governor, who is appointed by the President of Egypt, the population of the North Sinai Governorate as at 2014 was 421,984 people, predominantly Bedouin tribesmen. The Governorate covers an area of 27,574 square kilometers, the population density is 15 inhabitants per square kilometer. A significant economic activity of the Bedouin tribes has been smuggling and they have been active in the smuggling of supplies and weapons into the Gaza Strip by way of cross-border tunnels as well as assisting illegal migrants into Israel. These activities have been curtailed by the Egyptian government crackdown of smuggling into the Gaza Strip, North Sinai has since 2011 been especially affected by the Sinai insurgency and measures by government forces to combat it, which has resulted in many casualties. According to population estimates from 2015 the majority of residents in the live in urban areas. Out of an estimated 434,781 people residing in the governorate,261,686 people live in areas as opposed to only 173,095 in rural areas
40.
South Sinai Governorate
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South Sinai Governorate is the least populated governorate of Egypt. It is located in the east of the country, encompassing the southern half of the Sinai Peninsula, Saint Catherines Monastery, an Eastern Orthodox Church monastery and UNESCO World Heritage site of world renown, is located in central part of the governorate. Sharm El Sheikh has developed into a major tourist resort, in 2005, the resort was the site of terrorist attacks perpetrated by an extremist Islamist organisation. 88 people were killed, the majority of them Egyptians, and over 200 were wounded in the attack, in February 2014, a tourist bus was attacked in Taba. The perpetrators killed the Egyptian bus driver and three South Korean tourists, on 31 October 2015, Russian plane Metrojet Flight 9268 took off from Sharm El Sheikh International Airport and disintegrated on route to Pulkovo Airport, Saint Petersburg, Russia. All 217 passengers and seven members who were on board were killed. On October 14,2016 twelve Egyptian troops were killed, according to population estimates from 2015 the majority of residents in the governorate live in urban areas, with an urbanization rate of 51. 1%. Out of an estimated 167,426 people residing in the governorate,85,502 people live in areas as opposed to only 81,924 in rural areas. The Bedouin inhabit the Mount Sinai area, due to poor accessibility, at times the orchards in the mountains have served to hide narcotics smugglers in the region. Built between 548 and 565, the monastery is one of the oldest working Christian monasteries in the world, the site contains the worlds oldest continually operating library, possessing many unique books including the Syriac Sinaiticus and, until 1859, the Codex Sinaiticus. Raithu Monastery is situated in El Tor and it was built on a site where some 40 monks were massacred in the 4th or 5th century. Dahab El Tor Nuweiba Saint Catherine Sharm El Sheikh Taba Wadi Mukattab Wadi Feiran South Sinai Governorate Official website
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Geographic coordinate system
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A geographic coordinate system is a coordinate system used in geography that enables every location on Earth to be specified by a set of numbers, letters or symbols. The coordinates are chosen such that one of the numbers represents a vertical position. A common choice of coordinates is latitude, longitude and elevation, to specify a location on a two-dimensional map requires a map projection. The invention of a coordinate system is generally credited to Eratosthenes of Cyrene. Ptolemy credited him with the adoption of longitude and latitude. Ptolemys 2nd-century Geography used the prime meridian but measured latitude from the equator instead. Mathematical cartography resumed in Europe following Maximus Planudes recovery of Ptolemys text a little before 1300, in 1884, the United States hosted the International Meridian Conference, attended by representatives from twenty-five nations. Twenty-two of them agreed to adopt the longitude of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, the Dominican Republic voted against the motion, while France and Brazil abstained. France adopted Greenwich Mean Time in place of local determinations by the Paris Observatory in 1911, the latitude of a point on Earths surface is the angle between the equatorial plane and the straight line that passes through that point and through the center of the Earth. Lines joining points of the same latitude trace circles on the surface of Earth called parallels, as they are parallel to the equator, the north pole is 90° N, the south pole is 90° S. The 0° parallel of latitude is designated the equator, the plane of all geographic coordinate systems. The equator divides the globe into Northern and Southern Hemispheres, the longitude of a point on Earths surface is the angle east or west of a reference meridian to another meridian that passes through that point. All meridians are halves of great ellipses, which converge at the north and south poles, the prime meridian determines the proper Eastern and Western Hemispheres, although maps often divide these hemispheres further west in order to keep the Old World on a single side. The antipodal meridian of Greenwich is both 180°W and 180°E, the combination of these two components specifies the position of any location on the surface of Earth, without consideration of altitude or depth. The grid formed by lines of latitude and longitude is known as a graticule, the origin/zero point of this system is located in the Gulf of Guinea about 625 km south of Tema, Ghana. To completely specify a location of a feature on, in, or above Earth. Earth is not a sphere, but a shape approximating a biaxial ellipsoid. It is nearly spherical, but has an equatorial bulge making the radius at the equator about 0. 3% larger than the radius measured through the poles, the shorter axis approximately coincides with the axis of rotation
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Egypt
"Fayum". Encyclopædia Britannica. 10 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 219.
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