Political Map of Egypt - Nations Online Project ___ Political Map of Egypt About Egypt Map is showing is showing the North African country bordering the Mediterranean Sea to the North and the Red Sea in East. The population of Egypt is concentrated predominantly along the fertile valley of the Nile River and the coastal plains at the Mediterranean coast. All cities of the country, with the exception of those near the coast, lie along those parts of the Nile valley north of Aswan, because the rest of the country is largely desert. The Arab Republic of Egypt (its official name) occupies an area of 1 million km², that's almost twice the size of France or more than twice the size of the U.S. State of California . Egypt has a population of of approximately 87 million inhabitants (2014). Spoken language are modern Standard Arabic, colloquial language is the Egyptian-Arabic dialect. Capital city of Egypt is Cairo . Modern Egypt became independent in 1922. From 1958 to 1961 Egypt was united with Syria as the United Arab Republic.

Countries with international borders to Egypt are Palestinian territories (Gaza Strip), Israel , Libya , and Sudan , the Arab Republic of Egypt shares maritime borders with Cyprus , Greece , Jordan , Saudi Arabia and Turkey . Depicted on the map is Egypt and the surrounding countries with international borders, the national capital Cairo, governorate capitals, major cities, main roads, railroads and airports. You are free to use this map for educational purposes, please refer to the Nations Online Project. Map based on a UN map.

Source: UN Cartographic Section Cities in Egypt The map shows the location of following Egyptian cities and towns: Al 'Alamayn (Alamein), Al 'Arish (capital of the North Sinai Governorate), Al Bawiti, Al Fayyum (Faiyum; capital of the Faiyum Governorate), Al Ghardaqah (Hurghada, capital of Red Sea Governorate), Al Isma'iliyyah (Ismaïlia; capital of the Ismailia Governorate), Al Jizah (Giza; capital of the Giza Governorate,), Al Kharjah (also El-Kharga', or Al-Kharijah, capital of El Wadi el Gedid governorate), Al Mansurah (Mansoura; capital of the Dakahlia Governorate), Al Minya (capital of Minya Governorate), Al Qasr, Al Qusayr, Alexandria (capital of Alexandria Governorate), Ar Rashdah, Armant, As Sallum, Aswan (capital of the Aswan Governorate), Asyut (capital of Asyut Governorate), At Tur (El-Tor; capital of South Sinai Governorate), Az Zaqaziq (Zag

azig; capital of the Sharqia Governorate), Banha (is the capital of the Qalyubia Governorate), Bani Suwayf (Beni Suef; capital of the Beni Suef Governorate), Baranis, Bur Safajah, Cairo (Arabic: القاهرة‎ al-Qāhira), Damanhur (the capital of the Beheira Governorate), Damyat (Damietta; capital of the governorate of Domyat), Daraw, Halaib, Idfu, Isna, Kafr ash Shaykh (Kafr el-Sheikh (Arabic: كفر الشيخ‎) is the capital of Kafr el-Sheikh Governorate), Kawm Umbu, Luxor (capital of Luxor Governorate), Marsá 'Alam, Marsá Matruh (the capital of Matruh Governorate), Mut, Naj 'Hammadi, Port Said (capital of the Port Said Governorate), Qarah, Qasr, Qasr Al Farafrah, Qina (also Qena, is the capital of Qena Governorate), Ra's Gharib, Sharm el-Sheikh, Shibin Al Kawm (Sh

ibin El Kom; the capital of the Monufia Governorate), Sidi 'Abd ar Rahman, Sidi 'Umar, Sidi Barrani, Siwah, Suez (as-Suways, capital of the Suez governorate), Suhaj (Sohag, capital of Sohag Governorate), Taba, Tanta (the capital of the Gharbiya governorate).

North Africa Map, North African Countries Disclaimer Close Disclaimer : All efforts have been made to make this image accurate. However Compare Infobase Limited,its directors and employees do not own any responsibility for the correctness or authenticity of the same. North African Countries 446,550 or 710,850 (including the disputed Western Sahara) 32,226,056 (2010) $1.189 trillion 5,974 North Africa is a geographic and political subdivision of Africa, consisting of eight nations: Western Sahara, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, and South Sudan. These eight nations are separated from the rest of Africa geographically by the Sahara Desert, and all other countries in Africa are collectively referred to as Sub-Saharan Africa. Not only is North Africa separated physically from the rest of Africa, it is also politically and culturally set apart. The countries of North Africa are part of the Arab world, as members of the Arab League. Most countries in North Africa use Arabic as at least one of their official languages. The people of North Africa are mostly Arabs and Berbers, and most adhere to the Islamic religion.

North Africa is further divided into two smaller regions: Maghreb and the Sahara. The Maghreb region makes up northwestern Africa along the Atlas Mountains, including Western Sahara, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. The countries in the Sahara region are Egypt, Sudan, and South Sudan. ACOD~20120918 North Africa Review questions Regional Characteristics Extent and Defining Characteristics: North Africa is very diverse from the Western Sahara to Egypt. This area is made up of costal agriculture grasslands, desert, mountains, highlands, valleys, basins, rivers, lakes and seas. One major defining characteristic is the lack of precipitation, which is why it is called, "The Dry World". Physical Environment: The physical environment of North Africa as once stated before is very diverse. Western Sahara is on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. This area is made up of humid desert flatlands. Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, which are the Maghreb countries, have the Atlas Mountains running through them. Because of the Atlas Mountain in these areas, this brings precipitation that is why there are coastal grasslands. In the coastal grassland area, these lands are some of the only places in North Africa where agriculture succeeds.

Like in the Cap Bon Peninsula, in Tunisia, the most important agriculture products are oranges. Libya is made up of the Mediterranean Bay or Gulf Sidra along with the Fezzan Desert in the western region and the Libyan Desert in the eastern region. Egypt is surrounded by water sources, such as, the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile River, which is the longest river in the world, runs through Egypt. Since ancient times, the inhabitants could predict the annual flood, which was called life cycle; this is how they created basin irrigation. Today the basin irrigation, oasis, and the dam in Egypt contribute to the environment. Most of the region is desert and in the water areas agriculture and a way of live exists. Population: The population in North Africa is 195 million people (2007). In Western Sahara, the population is sparsely populated. The major population concentrations for the Maghreb Counties are on the Mediterranean coast and the moist slopes of the Atlas Mountains. In Libya, the majority of the population is in the Mediterranean area and about 20 percent lives in the capital of Tripoli.

Egypt is the most populace with 73.4 million people, and 95 percent of the population lives within 12 miles of the Nile River. Egypt's population makes it the second most populace country in Africa and ranking it as one of the most populace in the world. These countries are continually growing mostly because they are less developed and moderately developed countries. History: When the kingdom of Carthage was started, Eastern Mediterranean traders settled the coast. Then Rome conquered the coast about 4 centuries later. Nest, the Christian Byzantines had retaken the area. The Arabs invaded and conquered the Berber tribes and converted them to Islam. In the 1500s, the Ottoman Empire conquered the Arabs and had control until the 1900s. With the weakening of the Ottoman Empire after World War I, European powers took over its former provinces and made them colonies. France controlled Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia (Maghreb). Britain controlled Egypt, and Italy controlled Libya. Most of these countries regained their independence after World War II, with the exception of Libya in 1943.

Egypt's independence was gained in 1953, Tunisia and Morocco in 1956, and Algeria in 1963. Language and Religion: Unlike the landscape, the culture in North Africa is not as diverse as you would think. The natives or traditional groups and dialects make up a small percent of the population. The Arab and Berber people with the Islamic faith make up over 95 percent of the population. The Islam faith, as well as the two major sect Sunni and Shiites, strongly contributes to the culture. The main language is Arabic. Secondary languages in North Africa include French, English and Italian. Conflict: With the history of dictators and the Sunni and Shiites disagreements, which lead to hatred towards one another, brings about an unstable region in constant conflict. In Libya, Colonel Muammar al-Qadhafi has caused problems since his rise to power in 1969. He argued for the elimination of Israel, and in the early 80s sought to overthrow the government in Chad. In 1989, al-Qudhafi helped sponsor terrorist attacks on the United States. The increasing growth of Islamic fundamentalism has given rise to incidences of violence in North Africa.

Morocco invaded Western Sahara in the 1970s, which has caused on-going conflict. Since 1992, there has been an increased cycle of terrorism and internal violence in Algeria. Demographic Analysis based on Population Date Sheet 2,160 Countries Egypt: In 1957 Egypt took its independence from the United Kingdom. Today, Egypt is the most populous country in North Africa with 73.4 million people (2007). 95% of the population lives and works within 12 miles of the banks of the Nile River. The economy benefits from exporting petroleum that is found in the Sinai and the Western Desert. Egypt also depends on income from exporting cotton and textile. Tourism is a major source of income, but Islamic radical activists have hurt the tourist industry. GNI PPP of Egypt is $4,680 (2006). Basin irrigation, which is a system in which people captured and stored, water in the basins for three to four weeks and drained the water back into the Nile River and plant the winter crops. This irrigation system made Egypt and agricultural country that ranks the highest of agricultural producers in the world.

Natural increase of Egypt is 2.1%, infant mortality 33%, population under 15 of age is 33% and over 65 are 5%. Algeria: Algeria has a population of 34.1 million people (2007), most people live in the coastal belt of Mediterranean climate called "The Tell". Algeria's greatest assets are petroleum and natural gas, located in the Sahara Desert. Other major products such as cotton, olive and tobacco are cultivated with great success. GNI PPP of Algeria is $6,900. Algeria was once a French colony and in 1954, there was a major civil war called the Algerian War of independence. Once this war was resolved in 1962, Algeria gained its independence. Natural increase of Algeria is 1.7%, infant mortality is 30%, population under 15 is 30% and over 65 are 5%. Morocco: In 1956, Morocco became independent from France. Most people live in the northern part of the country and half of the population is still dependent on agriculture. Morocco is the poorest of the Maghreb countries.

Morocco has a weak economy and a lot of people have immigrated to Europe and has population of 31.7 million (2007). Phosphate is the primary product and fishing is a growing industry for this country. GNI PPP of Morocco is $5,000, the natural increase is 1.5%, infant mortality rate is 38%, population under age of 15 is 30% and over 65 are 5%. Tunisia: Tunisia is the smallest of the Maghreb countries but has the strongest economy and highest GNP PPP of $8,490 (2006) in Northern Africa. Tunisia's economy is dominated by agriculture, mining, energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors especially oranges, grown on the Cap Bon Peninsula. The orange is an important crop for export to Europe. Tunisia has a natural increase of 1.1% and low death rate. Population of Tunisia is 10.2 million (2007), infant mortality rate is 20%, population under age of 15 is 26% and over 65 are 6%. Libya: Libya was an Italian colony.

In 1951, Libya became an independent kingdom, and in 1969, became a republic. Libya sought to overthrow the government of Chad in the early 1980's. Libya is made up of Tripolitania in the northwest, Pyrenaica in the east, and the Fezzan in the southwest. The most populous area is in coastal lowlands and low highlands along the Mediterranean. Libya's largest exports are crude oil, petroleum products, and natural gas. Libya's population is 6.2 million (2007), infant mortality rate is 21%, population under age of 15 is 30% and over 65 are 4%. Western Sahara: Western Sahara has population of 0.5 million people (2007) and has been controlled by Morocco after Spanish dependency. The industrialization level in Western Sahara is low, due to few natural resources and lack of rain for agriculture. Because of this lack of rain, most of their food is imported.

Natural increase rate of Western Sahara is 2.0%, infant mortality rate is 49%, population under age of 15 is 31% and over 65 are 2%. Sudan: With its large land mass, Sudan is the largest country by area in North Africa and the tenth largest in the world. A population of 38.6 million people makes Sudan the second largest populated country in North Africa. It has a population growth of 2.2% and an infant mortality rate of 69%. The population consists of 41% under the age of 15 and 4% over the age of 65. The GNI for this region is $2,160 (2006). References Blij, H.J. Muller, P. (2007).Geography: realms, regions, and concepts (3rd Edition). New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Bradshaw, M. White, G. Dymond, J. DeLyser, D. (2004) Contemporary World Regional Geography Global Connections. New York: McGraw-Hill Co, Inc. Hobbs, J. Salter, C.

(2006) Essentials of World Regional Geography (5th Edition). Thomson Learning, Inc. World population data sheet (2006). Washington, DC: Population Reference Bureau. Review Questions 1. Which country in the North Africa region has a population in excess of 60 million? A. Morocco; B. Egypt; C. Tunisia; D. Libya; E. Algeria 2. Which country in the North Africa region is still a kingdom? A. Libya; B. Morocco; C. Egypt; D. Tunisia; E. Western Sahara 3. The North African country that sought to overthrow the government of Chad in the early 1980's was: A. Egypt; B. Morocco; C. Sudan; D. Tunisia; E. Libya. 4. _____________ irrigation is the name given to the Nile Valley's water-control system of the past century, where floodwaters trapped behind dams and allowed to settle for three to four weeks: A. Basin; B. Canal; C. Qanat; D. Range; E. None of the above 5.

All of the following are true about North Africa, except: A. The people of this region have uniformly benefited from the export of petroleum; B. The realm is almost exclusively Islamic. This faith pervades cultures from Morocco in the west to Egypt in the east; C. The population is widely dispersed in discontinuous clusters. Population concentrations occur where the water supply is adequate to marginal; D. This realm is a source region of several world religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; E. Enormous reserves of petroleum, about 50% of the world's proven reserves, lie beneath certain portions of this area. 6. During the colonial period, the French dominated trade and commerce in all of the following countries in North Africa, except: A. Morocco; B. Algeria; C. Tunisia; D. Lebanon; E. Egypt 7. The type of irrigation used in ancient Egypt was known as: A. Basin; B. Fertigation; C. Qanat; D. Sharia; E. Aswan 8. The major mountain range in North Africa is the: A. Hejaz Highlands; B. Atlas Mountains; C. Alps; D.

Algerian; E. Zagros. 9. Libya's longtime ruler who in the past has argued for the elimination of Israel: A. Mubarek; B. Qadhafi; C. Peres; D. Sadat; E. Chad. 10. The Maghreb includes the countries of: A. Morocco, Libya, and Tunisia; B. Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt; C. Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria; D. Algeria, Morocco, and Egypt 11. Which statement is not true about the countries of North Africa? A. Most of the population is located around areas of water; B. All of these countries were colonies of the European powers; C. These countries are very prosperous as industrial nations; D. North African countries have irrigated agriculture and some of them export food products. 12. Which country has the highest GNI PPP? A. Morocco; B. Tunisia; C. Egypt; D. Algeria; E. Libya 13. Which country has the highest natural increase rate? A. Egypt; B. Morocco; C. Algeria; D. Tunisia; E.

Libya 14. Which agricultural product is particularly important to the country of Tunisia and is grown along the Cap Bon Peninsula? A. Tomatoes B. Grapes; C. Oranges; D. Wheat; E. Corn 15. Which country ranks among the highest of agricultural producers in the world? A. Turkey; B. Sudan; C. Morocco; D. Egypt; E. Tunisia 16. Which country has the largest land mass of North Africa? A. Egypt; B. Algeria; C. Sudan; D. Tunisia; E. Western Sahara 17. What country runs along the North Atlantic Ocean and is bordered by Western Sahara and Algeria? A. Turkey; B. Tunisia; C. Algeria; D. Libya; E. Morocco 18. Which major body of water borders five out of the seven countries that make up North Africa? A. North Atlantic Ocean; B. Arabian Sea; C. Mediterranean Sea; D. Indian Ocean; E .Red Sea 19. Which country in North Africa has the highest infant mortality rate? A. Sudan; B.

Morocco; C. Egypt; D. Western Sahara; E. Libya 20. What is the total population of the Northern Africa region? A. 100 million; B. 345 million; C. 525 million; D. 195 million; E. 296 million First submitted by Jason Jurey on Mar 8, 1996.Then by Rachel Schuette on Nov 8, 1996.Updated by Alena Kaplun on Apr 8, 1997.Updated by Robert Distefano on 11-20-98. Updated by Stephen Kingston on April Fools Day, 2001. Edited by Karen Oyler on 10. Oct.ï¿½03. Updated by Hisa Shimizu and Britney Wesson on Apr 8, 2007. Updated by Jessica Wilkins & Jessica Schuette on April 2, 2008.

Where to Go in North Africa - Travel Guide Where to Go in North Africa Where to Go in North Africa Visit North Africa's Best Destinations By Anouk Zijlma Updated February 03, 2016. When deciding where to go in North Africa , make sure you include a visit to at least a few of its best destinations. Visit the medieval cities of Marrakech and Fes in Morocco and Tunis in Tunisia. Trek in the Atlas mountains to the highest peak, Jbel Toubkal, where the views are awe inspiring. Dive among schools of sharks in Ras Mohammed, a marine national park in Egypt's Red Sea. North Africa's biggest draw has to be Egypt's ancient civilizations: Luxor, the Pyramids of Giza, and Abu Simbel. Desert trips to Tunisia's Sahara and Egypt's Siwa Oasis should not be missed. Click on each heading for more information Pyramids in Giza, outside of Cairo, Egypt. David Hutchinson Pyramids of Giza, Egypt The Pyramids of Giza, just outside Cairo in Egypt , represent one of the greatest architectural feats by man.

The last surviving member of the Seven Wonders of the World , the Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the world's oldest tourist attractions, built more than 5000 years ago. There are in fact three main pyramids in Giza: the Great Pyramid of Khufu (or Cheops), The Pyramid of Kafhre, and the smaller Pyramid of Menkaura. Each pyramid is a tomb to a different king of Egypt. In front of the pyramids lies the Sphinx , or Abu al-Hol in Arabic, "Father of Terror". For information about getting to the pyramids and what to see check out my travel guide to Cairo . For more photos see images of Cairo . More » continue reading below our video Before Your Road Trip, Watch This Medina, Marrakech. © Sjaak Zijlma Marrakech, Morocco Situated at the foot of the Atlas mountains in Morocco , the imperial city of Marrakech is large, noisy, polluted, and fascinating city. If you enjoy a daily assault on all your senses, you'll have a lot of fun. There are so many things to see that you should spend at least 3 days in Marrakech.

Stay in a Riad in the medina (old walled part of town) because this is where all the action is. The Majorelle Gardens offer a lovely respite from the bustle of the souqs and shouldn't be missed. The heart of the medina, the Djemma el Fnaa, should also be a priority for anyone who visits. More About Marrakech Luxor, Egypt Luxor in Egypt is known as the world's largest open-air museum. The city is built on and around the ancient site of Thebes, which tourists have been visiting since the Greco-Roman times. The modern day city of Luxor has its own spectacular temple , as well as excellent museums. Close to Luxor is the ancient site of Karnak , which was the most important place of worship in ancient Egypt. Karnak is a spectacular complex of sanctuaries, kiosks, pylons, and obelisks, all dedicated to the Theban gods. Across the Nile from Luxor lies Thebes -- the ancient burial grounds of Pharaohs and Queens known as The Valley of the Kings and the Valley of Queens. This is where you'll find Tutankhamun's tomb .

Fes (Fez), Morocco The most complete medieval city of the Arab world , Fes is a strange and appealing mix of middle ages meets the modern world. The extraordinary medina city of Fes El Bali is worth a few days walking in itself. Other highlights include the Merenid tombs , the Royal Palace, and the Mellah (Jewish quarter). Fes was Morocco 's capital for more than 400 years and is still considered the religious and cultural center of the country. Personally I prefer Fes to Marrakech because it's a little grittier and the medina is filled with Moroccans who actually live inside its walls; they're not visiting or just coming in to sell their wares. Don't miss the tanneries. More About Fes Siwa Oasis, Egypt The Siwa Oasis is in Egypt's Western Desert, close to the Libyan border. It is Egypt's most remote oasis town and the Siwans have developed their own distinct Berber culture. A decent road and a small airport have certainly put the Siwa Oasis on the tourist map, but it is still off the beaten track.

As well as its unique culture, the Siwa oasis is known for its geographical beauty, hot springs, and the fact that Alexander the Great traveled here to visit the Oracle of Amun. Check out Fatnas island and take a desert safari while you're there. The best time to visit is the spring and fall. There are plenty of accommodation options to suit all budgets. Tunis, Tunisia Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, is often ignored by the many European tourists who flock to Tunisia's beach resorts. But they're missing a true gem of a city, particularly the Medina , which rivals that of Marrakech and Fes in Morocco . Tunis is home to one the best museums in North Africa, The Bardo , which is housed in a beautiful palace filled with the treasures found at numerous ancient sites dotted around Tunisia. While there are many hotels in Tunis, a light rail system makes it very easy to stay in the gorgeous, picturesque village of Sidi Bou Said on the coast, just 20 minutes away. En route are the ancient ruins of Carthage . Abu Simbel, Egypt Next to the Pyramids of Giza , Abu Simbel in Southern Egypt is perhaps the most recognized monument of ancient Egypt.

The two temples built for the Pharaoh Ramesses II have been attracting visitors since Victorian times. Almost as impressive as the monument itself is the story of its restoration in the 1960's. The temples had to be dismantled and physically moved 60 meters up a cliff where they were reassembled in the exact same relation to each other and the sun. A daily sound and light show should not to be missed. You should also check out the Abu Simbel Festival , which takes place twice a year in February and October. Natural sunlight and architectural brilliance combine to light up the inner sanctum. Jebel Toubkal, High Atlas Mountains, Morocco. CC Atlas Mountains, Morocco Jebel Toubkal, situated in the High Atlas Mountains, is North Africa's highest peak at 4,167m (13,667 ft). It's a challenging trek to the summit, but worth it for the spectacular views. While you can make it to the summit and back to the town of Imlil in a day, it's recommended you take at least 3 days to get the most out of it. Click here for information about different routes. Imlil is only about an hour from Marrakech .

The Atlas Mountains cover a wide territory and there are many good treks available in the Mid-, High-, and Anti-Atlas Mountains. All offer a chance to meet with Berber people. Companies that organize treks to the High Atlas Mountains include: Ras Mohammed National Park, Egypt The Red Sea offers some of the best diving on the planet and Ras Mohammed National Park, in the Gulf of Aqaba ( Egypt ), is top of the line. There are more than 1000 species of fish accounted for in this marine park, all enjoying their underwater heaven amidst 300 species of coral (both hard and soft). There are 20 dive sites to explore including Shark Reef, Yolanda Reef, Anemone City and Eel Garden (where eels reach over 20m in length). The best time to dive (and to see sharks) is July and August. You should also check out the Thistlegrom wreck dive just north of the park. Recommended diving operators who will take you out to Ras Mohammed are listed here , courtesy of Scuba Travel . Tunisia's Sahara Desert The Sahara Desert crosses every country in North Africa. I've singled out the Tunisian Sahara because of its many interesting and easily accessible sights.

There are unique troglodyte dwellings around the Matmata area. Star Wars fans will recognize this area as the planet Tatooine in the movies. Stone forts (Ksars) and fortified granaries built into the desert mountains hundreds of years ago are fascinating to visit, in particular the Ksar Ouled Soltaine . Beautiful dunes, Chott el Jerid a huge salt lake, and of course a few nights in a tented hotel makes the Tunisian Sahara a wonderful destination. Sahara tours are easy to book from Djerba , Douz and Tozeur . 51 Random Facts about Africa 51 Random Facts About . . . Africa Africa is the second largest of the earth’s seven continents and makes up approximately 22% of the earth’s total land area.g With the inclusion of the disputed Western Sahara territory and the island nations off the continental coast, there are a total of 54 independent nations in Africa.a The current population of Africa is nearly one billion people. Due to rapid population growth in the continent over the last 40 years, its general population is relatively young.

In many African states, more than half of the population is under the age of 25.g Africa is the most centrally located of all of the continents with both the prime meridian (0 degrees longitude) and the equator (0 degrees latitude) passing through it.a The primary region of Africa is often called sub-Saharan Africa and excludes the mostly Islamic countries of North Africa: Western Sahara, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. Sub-Saharan Africa includes 42 nations on mainland Africa and the six island nations.a While Africa makes up about 16% of the world’s population, fully one quarter of the world’s languages are spoken only in Africa.g Arabic (in various dialects) is the most common language spoken in Africa with about 170 million speakers, primarily residing in North Africa. In the continent as a whole, there are over 2,000 recognized languages spoken.g Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, with an estimated population of 125–145 million people.

Egypt is the second most populous country with over 76 million people.g The most populated city in Africa is the Egyptian capital of Cairo with an estimated 17 million residents in the metropolitan area.g The largest country in Africa is Algeria with a total area of 967,490 square miles (2.5 million square kilometers), and the smallest country is the island nation of The Seychelles with a total area of just 175 square miles (453 square kilometers).g Population experts estimate that there are at least 3,000 distinct ethnic groups (tribes) in Africa. Nigeria alone has more than 370 recognized tribes within its population.h The Nile River is the longest river in the world with a total length of 4,132 miles Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa and the second-largest freshwater lake in the world, covering an area of 26,830 square miles (69,490 square kilometers).e The Nile River, which drains into the Mediterranean Sea at the northeastern edge of Africa, is the longest river in the world with a total length of 4,132 miles (6,650 kilometers).

It is formed from the juncture of two smaller rivers: the White Nile and the Blue Nile.e Africa contains the world’s largest desert, the Sahara, which makes up an area greater in size than the entire continental U.S.e Egypt is the most popular tourist destination in Africa, attracting around 10 million visitors per year.e While Egypt is most well known for its pyramids, the Republic of Sudan actually has 223 of its own pyramids, double the number of pyramids in Egypt. Smaller and steeper than their Egyptian counterparts, the pyramids of Sudan are not nearly as famous.e Four of the five fastest land animals reside in Africa: the cheetah, the wildebeest, the lion, and the Thomson’s gazelle.

All of these animals can run at speeds above 50 miles per hour, with the cheetah reaching a top speed of about 70 miles per hour.e Africa is home to the world’s largest living land animal, the African elephant, which can weigh between 6 and 7 tons.e The novel Tarzan of the Apes, set in Africa and published by American author Edgar Rice Burroughs in 1912, created such a compelling image of Africa and the book’s title character that a New Orleans newspaper writer only half-jokingly suggested that if Tarzan were to run for president in 1929, he would receive as many votes as incumbent president Herbert Hoover.e The deserts of Tunisia housed the original Star Wars movie sets for the film's planet Tatooine. More than 30 years after the premier of the first movie in the series, the sets are still very well preserved and visitors to Tunisia can even stay in Luke Skywalker’s home.e Africa is the poorest and most underdeveloped of all of the continents, despite its wealth of natural resources.

The average poor person in sub-Saharan Africa is estimated to live on just $.70 a day.g More than 17 million people in sub-Saharan Africa have died of AIDS, and experts estimate that at least 25 million more people in Africa are HIV-positive.f Approximately 90% of all cases of malaria worldwide occur in Africa, and 3,000 African children die each day from its effects.f The African continent has not moved much from its original position in the super-continent Pangaea Scientists believe Africa was once joined with Earth’s other continents in a super-continent called Pangaea. While Asia and South America split from Africa in the late Cretaceous epoch (roughly 80 million years ago), the African continent remained relatively stable and has not moved much throughout time. Geologists believe the large island of Madagascar split from the African continent as early as 160 millions years ago.h Central eastern Africa is believed by most scientists to be the origin place of both humans and great apes.

The earliest remains of the modern human species Homo sapiens have been found in Ethiopia and date to roughly 200,000 years ago.h The scientist Charles Darwin was the first to suggest that the ancestors of human beings may have originated in Africa. However, prejudicial attitudes toward the continent made many people in the Western world highly resistant to the idea until well into the twentieth century.h In 1974, the skeleton of “Lucy,” a hominid who lived approximately 3.2 million years ago and has been considered a common ancestor to the human family, was discovered in Hadar, Ethiopia. In 1979, a 165-foot trail of the earliest hominid footprints was discovered in the Kibish region of Tanzania. The two discoveries indisputably marked northeastern Africa as the birthplace of humanity.h Throughout human prehistory, Africa contained no major nation-states and was inhabited primarily by small groups of hunter-gatherers. Scientists believe that cattle were domesticated by hunter-gatherers in Africa as early as 6000 B.C., long before the advent of agriculture on the continent.d The oldest literate civilization in Africa is the Pharaonic civilization of ancient Egypt.

Historical records date the rise of the Egyptian state to about 3300 B.C. and the fall from influence at 343 B.C., making it one of the world’s oldest and longest-lasting civilizations.d Europeans first began exploring the northern coast of Africa around 332 B.C., when Alexander the Great came into Egypt and established the city of Alexandria. The Roman Empire soon after began to integrate much of North Africa’s Mediterranean coastline into the Roman system.d While there are several different theories regarding the origin of the name “Africa,” most etymologists believe the name derived from Afri, the title for a group of people who dwelt in North Africa near Carthage around the third century B.C., and -ca, the Roman suffix for “country” or “land.”d The name ”Africa” was derived from Greek and Latin words that highlighted the continent's sunny, warm climate Ancient Greeks and Romans originally used the term “Africa” to apply only to the northern region of the continent.

In Latin, the word Africa means “sunny,” and the word Aphrike in Greek means “without cold.”e By the first century A.D., Africa had been subdivided by geographers into three distinct regions: Egypt, Libya, and Ethiopia. The last term was more or less used to describe the whole of sub-Saharan Africa.d The African region of Ethiopia is featured prominently in several ancient Greek dramas and poems. The Greek poet Homer mentions Ethiopians in both the Iliad and the Odyssey as a “blameless race” and “amongst the noblest of men.”e Islam became a prominent influence in North Africa by the seventh century A.D. and spread into sub-Saharan Africa through trade routes and migration. The population of North Africa is still considered widely Muslim today.d Prior to the colonization of the African continent, historians believe Africa was made up of as many as 10,000 different states and autonomous groups, ranging in size from small family groups of hunter-gatherers to large kingdoms.d While slavery has been practiced in Africa all throughout recorded history, Africa is the only continent to have a large percentage of its inhabitants transported elsewhere for slave labor.

Historians estimate that approximately 7–12 million slaves were transferred from Africa to the Americas between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries.d Only two African nations have never been under European colonial power: Liberia, an independent nation settled largely by African Americans, and Ethiopia, an Orthodox Christian nation known in Europe as Abyssinia. The rest of the continent was colonized by European imperial powers in the nineteenth century “scramble for Africa.”d During the 1950s, colonized African states began to fight for independence from imperial rule with Libya being the first African nation to declare its independence. The independence movements brought great hope and inspired U.S. civil rights leaders like Malcolm X to fight for increased freedoms at home.d South Africa was one of the first African nations to gain its independence from colonial rule after the imperial period. However, black residents of the state lived under a forced system of segregation called Apartheid (meaning “separateness”) until 1994 when the country held its first democratic elections with universal suffrage.

The famous civil rights leader Nelson Mandela was elected as president.d Children were commonly recruited and even compelled to serve as soldiers in the Second Congo War The Second Congo War, which began in 1998 and involved eight African nations, is the largest war in African history. An estimated 5.4 million people died as a result of the war and its aftermath, making it the deadliest worldwide conflict since World War II. The war officially ended in 2006, but hostilities still continue today.g Africa is currently politically organized into the African Union, a federation created in 2001 and consisting of all of Africa’s nations except Morocco.a Islam is currently the largest religion in Africa, with Christianity following closely behind.

These two religions make up 85% of the continent’s population, while just 15% of the population are nonreligious or follow traditional African religions.g While Africa is the second largest of the earth’s seven continents, it has the shortest coastline, due to very few jutting edges and bays in its landscape.a Among the native population of Africa, there are more physical variations than on any other continent in the world.h There are fewer people with Internet access in the entire continent of Africa than in New York City alone.a The average life expectancy on the African continent ranges from 74 years in the island nation of Mauritius to just under 32 years in sub-Saharan Swaziland.b, c Two of the most popular sports in Africa are soccer (called football) and cricket. Both sports were introduced during colonial times and have flourished on the continent due to the international success of African teams.a A popular fashion statement in eastern Africa is to wear a kanga, a large cotton cloth with a message printed on it.

Kanga are worn by both men and women and they originated during the nineteenth century in Zanzibar and Mombassa.a The “evil eye” is a term that originated in North Africa and the Mediterranean and is widely believed to cause harm, especially to the sick and vulnerable. In Morocco, it is common for men and boys to decorate the backs of their cloaks with bright red eyes to reflect back and cast off the look of the evil eye.a In Tunisia, images of fish are often used to protect against evil. New buildings often have fish bones or tails embedded in them as they are built, and cars have brightly colored plastic or cloth fish attached to them to provide protection to the people inside.a -- Posted July 23, 2009

Question: Zagazig is a city in which North African country?
Answer: Egypt