Cairo

Cairo (Arabic: القاهرة; transliterated: al-Qāhirah) is the capital city of Egypt (and previously the United Arab Republic) and has a metropolitan area population of approximately 15.2 million people. Cairo is the thirteenth most populous metropolitan area in the world. Cairo is located at 30°2' North, 31°13' East (30.03333, 31.21667). http://earth-info.nga.mil/gns/html/cntry_files.html

Geography

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cairo is located on the banks and islands of the Nile River in the north of Egypt, immediately south of the point where the river leaves its desert-bound valley and breaks into three branches into the low-lying Nile Delta region.

Related Topics:
Nile River - Nile Delta

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The oldest part of the city is somewhat east of the river. There, the city gradually spreads west, engulfing the agricultural lands next to the Nile. These western areas, built on the model of Paris by Ismail the Magnificent in the mid-19th century, are marked by wide boulevards, public gardens, and open spaces. The older eastern section of the city is very different: having grown up haphazardly over the centuries it is filled with small lanes and crowded tenaments. While western Cairo is dominated by the government buildings and modern architecture, the eastern half is filled with hundreds of ancient mosques that act as landmarks.

Related Topics:
Paris - Ismail the Magnificent - 19th century - Mosque

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Extensive water systems have also allowed the city to expand east into the desert. Bridges link the Nile islands of Gezira and Roda, where many government buildings are located and government officials live. Bridges also cross the Nile attaching the city to the suburbs of Giza and Imbabah (part of the Cairo conurbation).

Related Topics:
Gezira - Roda - Giza - Imbabah

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

West of Giza, in the desert, is part of the ancient necropolis of Memphis on the Giza plateau, with its three large pyramids, including the Great Pyramid of Giza (last surviving of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World). Approximately 11 miles (18 km) to the south of modern Cairo is the site of the ancient Egyptian city of Memphis and adjoining necropolis of Saqqara. These cities were Cairo's ancient predecessors, when Cairo was still in this approximate geographical location.

Related Topics:
Necropolis - Pyramids - Great Pyramid of Giza - Seven Ancient Wonders of the World - Memphis - Saqqara

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~