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Egypt General
Information:
Geographical
Data
Egypt known
as the Arab Republic of Egypt and is located in north-eastern Africa.
Cairo, the capital and largest city,It is bounded on the north by the
Mediterranean Sea, on the east by Israel and the Red Sea, on the south
by Sudan, and on the west by Libya, the land area of Egypt is settled or
under cultivation, this consists of the valley and delta of the Nile, a
number of desert oases, and land along the Suez Canal.
More than 90 percent of the country
consists
of desert
areas: In the west, the Libyan Desert, a part of the Sahara Desert which
is also known as the Western Desert. The Libyan Desert includes a vast
sandy expanse called the Great Sand Sea. Located here are several
depressions with elevations below sea
level, including the Qattara Depression, which has an area of about
18,000 sq km (about 7000 sq m) and reaches a depth of 133 m (436 ft)
below sea level, the lowest point in Africa. Also found here are the
oases of Siwa, Kharga, Baharia and Dakhla.
In the east the Arabian Desert, also
called the Eastern Desert (which borders the Red Sea and the Gulf of
Suez). Much of the Arabian Desert occupies a plateau that rises
gradually east from the Nile Valley to elevations of about 600 m (about
2000 ft) in the east and is broken along the Red Sea coast by jagged
peaks as high as about 2100 m (about 7000 ft) above sea level.
In the
extreme south, along the border with Sudan, is the Nubian Desert, an
extensive region of dunes and sandy plains.
The Sinai
Peninsula consists of sandy desert in the north and rugged mountains in
the south, with summits looming more than about 2100 m (about 7000 ft)
above the Red Sea. Mount Catherine (Jabal Katrìnah - 2637 m/8652 ft),
the highest elevation in Egypt, is in the Sinai Peninsula, as is Mount
Sinai (Jabal Mosa), where, according to the Old Testament, Moses
received the Ten Commandments.
The Nile
enters Egypt from the Sudan and flows north for about 1545 km (about 960
m) to the Mediterranean Sea. For its entire length, from the southern
border to Cairo, the Nile flows through a narrow valley lined by cliffs.
Lake Nasser, the world's largest man-made reservoir and formed by the
Aswan high dam, extends south across the Sudan border. The lake is about
480 km (about 300 m) long and is about 16 km (10 m) across at its widest
point. About two-thirds of the lake lies in Egypt.
South of a
point near the town of Idfu, the Nile Valley is rarely more than 3 km (2
m) wide. From Idfu to Cairo, the valley is about 23 km (about 14 m) in
width, with most of the arable portion on the western side. In the
vicinity of Cairo the valley merges with the delta, a fan-shaped plain,
the perimeter of which occupies about 250 km (about 155 m) of the
Mediterranean coastline. Silt deposited by the Rosetta (Rashid),
Damietta (Dumyat), and other distributaries has made the delta the most
fertile region in the country. However, the Aswan High Dam has reduced
the flow of the Nile, causing the salty waters of the Mediterranean to
erode land along the coast near the Nile.
A series of
four shallow, brackish lakes extends along the seaward extremity of the
delta. Another larger lake, Birkat Qarun, is situated inland in the
desert north of the town of Al Fayoum.
The
Government
Egypt is officially known as the Arab Republic of Egypt (ARE). Its
capital city is Cairo. Some of the major cities are Alexandria, Giza,
Port Said, Asyut, Suez, Minya, and Aswan. It is a republic. Hosni
Mubarak is President, Commander in Chief of the Army, the leader of the
National Defense Council. The Prime Minister and cabinet are appointed
by the President.
There is one
legislature body: the National Assembly, composed of representatives
from all districts of the country, 50 percent of whom must be from the
working class or farmers. The Shura Council is an advisory body with 140
elected members and another 70 appointed members.
The Economy
Since 1973 there has been a massive influx of foreign investment into
Egypt. As a result there are new roads linking all areas of the country,
villages up and down the Nile and in the deserts have been electrified,
new schools, hospitals, and other services have sprung up by the dozen,
telephone systems have undergone massive renovation and expansion, and
the private sector has been encouraged to invest heavily in Egypt’s
future.
The change in
Egypt has been dramatically positive. For the tourists there are dozens
of new hotels and restaurants, monuments have been restored and their
environments spruced up, tour guides are licensed, and retail shops are
bursting with good quality products.
Hard currency
revenue is of major importance to the government. To that end visitors
are encouraged to spend freely, tax exempt. The major source of income
for the country as a whole has been the Suez Canal, oil and remittances
from Egyptians working abroad. Domestically, tourism has become vitally
important.
What to Wear?
Egypt is a conservative country and visitors should respect this local
custom No topless or nude bathing is permitted. On the practical side,
leave your synthetics at home as they will prove to be too hot in summer
and not warm enough in winter - bring materials that breathe. It is
advisable to wear cotton in summer as the heat can be severe. In winter
wear layers that can be taken off during the heat of the day and put
back on for cool evenings.
Wear loose
and flowing garments, which are not only modest, but practical in a hot
climate. Have you ever wondered why the Bedouin wear layers of flowing
robes? Why they cover their heads and the back of their necks? Centuries
of living in desert climates have taught them that loose garments keep
one cooler and layered garments allow wind to circulate, creating a
natural ventilation system. Protecting the head and neck from loss of
moisture prevents heat stroke. Also bring comfortable shoes. You will be
doing a lot of walking and temple floors are far from even. In summer,
wear a hat to protect yourself from the heat of the Egyptian sun.
What to
Bring?
Above all travel light. Get wheels for your luggage and leave heavy
items at home. You are allowed to bring one piece of suitcase of maximum
45 lbs and a carry on bag.
Remember to
take your passport and tickets (keep copies in a separate place), your
travelers checks and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, and American
Express are widely accepted). Remember also any medication you are
currently taking or you might need (along with aspirin, anti-diarrhea
medicine, and motion-sickness pills.
If you don’t
bring a camera you will be sorry. You are allowed to bring in two used
cameras, and one used camcorder, and unlimited amount of film (given
that all are for personal use and not to be sold or given away as
gifts). Sunglasses are a must as the sun is very strong in Egypt.
Remember to label your cameras, purses, briefcases, and suitcases with
your hotel and home addresses.
Clearing the
Customs in Egypt
Upon arrival in Egypt you are required to register video cameras,
cameras, and laptop computers. When departing from Egypt see a customs
officer to cancel these items from your passport .
Electricity
Power supply in Egypt is 220 volt. If you are bringing in electronics
you will need a 110/220 adaptor as well as a European style (two round)
converter.
Business
Hours
Banks and Government Offices: 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily, closed
Friday, Saturday, and holidays.
Business: 8
a.m. to 4-5 p.m., closed Friday, some on Saturday, and most holidays.
Many grocery stores and gas stations are open 24-hours a day, 7 days a
week.
Shops: 10
a.m. to 9 p.m. in winter and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. in summer. Many shops are
closed on Sunday.
Crime and
Drugs
Crime in Egypt is nearly nonexistent, and violence is usually limited to
family feuds. However, in tourism areas some pickpockets and petty
thieves may exists, so be careful and remember that the ever helpful
tourism police are usually nearby. Women must be cautious, especially in
out-lying areas. Stay completely away from drugs as one is subject to
prosecution, jail, or eviction from Egypt if caught possessing or using
drugs.
Visiting
Antiquities
Egypt's monuments have become increasingly damaged by the hordes of
tourists who visit them every day. Allow your grandchildren to someday
follow in your footsteps by avoiding adding to the problem. Never lean
against or even touch in any way walls with decorations, for you can
crumble the plaster or flake away the stone. Stay within the railings
set up, and don't touch the carvings or paintings. Flash photography is
categorically prohibited, for it fades the paintings, but you can
photograph tomb interiors in available light (use fast film) with a
special permit and at times with an extra fee.
Museums are
generally open daily 9 am - 5 pm, Friday 9 am - 4 pm; other sites are
usually open the same hours as the museums.
Visiting
Mosques: Major tourism mosques are open to the public unless services
are in progress (the main service is on Friday at noon). Keep in mind
that a mosque differs from a western church in that Christian churches
are considered houses of God, while mosques are more a gathering place
for the faithful of Islam. Unless otherwise posted, tickets to some that
have been restored are sold by the caretaker for about LE3-6. All
visitors to mosques, mausoleums, and madrasas must remove their shoes.
Most Muslims walk around in their stockings but those mosques that are
major tourist attractions have canvas overshoes available; a tip of 50PT
to LE1 is in order for the people who put them on for you. Women must
cover bare arms and should wear a scarf. It’s better not to wear shorts
while you are in Cairo (applies to our guests who our booked on Platinum
package) because this is when you will visit mosques.
Local Customs
In general, Egyptians are most accommodating and they will go out of
their way to help you and respond to any questions you have. Most
Egyptians require little personal space and will stand within inches of
you to talk. You will find that whenever you start talking with an
Egyptian, you will inevitably draw a crowd, and often the Egyptians will
start discussing among themselves over the correct answer to a question.
Please avoid sensitive local political debates with guides or any other
locals.
Tipping
Tipping (bakhsheesh) is a part of life in Egypt. Tips for the cruise and
hotels is mandatory ($35 per person) and this is payable upon arrival in
Egypt. Tips for other services are on voluntary basis. Please do not
offer tips to professionals, businessmen, or others who would consider
themselves your equals. You may seriously offend them by your act.
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