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| | [[File:Egypt rel97.jpg|thumb|200px|right|'''Cairo''' is located in northeast [[Egypt]], where the Nile branches into the Nile Delta flowing to the [[Mediterranean Sea]].]] | | [[File:Egypt rel97.jpg|thumb|200px|right|'''Cairo''' is located in northeast [[Egypt]], where the Nile branches into the Nile Delta flowing to the [[Mediterranean Sea]].]] |
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| − | '''Cairo''' ("Ky-roh") is the capital of [[Egypt]] and is home to over 16 million people.<ref>http://www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdf</ref> Cairo sits in the upper part of Egypt on the bank of the [[Nile River]]. The city is still growing, though more slowly than in the past, as Egypt's population growth slows, and the movement of major employers, including many government institutions, to satellite cities such as "6th October", Giza and Helwan. It is believed that Jesus and the [[Holy Family]] lived a while in part of Old Cairo. | + | '''Cairo''' ("Ky-roh") is the capital of [[Egypt]] and its metropolitan area is home to over 21.3 million people, making it the most populated in the [[Arab]] world, the second most in [[Africa]], and the sixth most in the entire world.<ref>http://www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdf</ref> Cairo sits in the upper part of Egypt on the bank of the [[Nile River]]. The city is still growing, though more slowly than in the past, as Egypt's population growth slows, and the movement of major employers, including many government institutions, to satellite cities such as "6th October", Giza and Helwan. It is believed that Jesus and the [[Holy Family]] lived a while in part of Old Cairo. |
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| | Technically, Cairo only refers to the city on the east bank of the Nile, the west bank being Giza, which is administratively separate. Cairo is part of a large built-up area that covers four governates and several cities. The city is typically called by the name of the country, Misr (مصر, Egypt, "Mezz-ruh" or "Masr").<ref name="ixp"> | | Technically, Cairo only refers to the city on the east bank of the Nile, the west bank being Giza, which is administratively separate. Cairo is part of a large built-up area that covers four governates and several cities. The city is typically called by the name of the country, Misr (مصر, Egypt, "Mezz-ruh" or "Masr").<ref name="ixp"> |
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| | Line 3 (under const.): Airport to Mohandiseen (southern branch) and Embaba (northern branch), GREEN on maps. <br> | | Line 3 (under const.): Airport to Mohandiseen (southern branch) and Embaba (northern branch), GREEN on maps. <br> |
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| − | Metro stations can be identified by a red "M" in a black, eight pointed star. "Metro" is spelt above the "M" in small arabic script, in white cubic font. Major stations all have a distinctive decorative theme, unique to each station, often making use of modernist flavoured mosaics or tile work. The system is entirely bi-lingual in Arabic and English. | + | Metro stations can be identified by a red "M" in a black, eight pointed star. "Metro" is spelt above the "M" in small Arabic script, in white cubic font. Major stations all have a distinctive decorative theme, unique to each station, often making use of modernist flavoured mosaics or tile work. The system is entirely bi-lingual in Arabic and English. |
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| | === Buses === | | === Buses === |
| − | Cairo and its conurbation have a number of overlapping bus systems. The municipal authority has the most extensive network, branded "CTA". These buses are large single deckers with white colour scheme with the CTA logo displayed in black down the flanks. They operate on fixed routes, indicated by a three digit number. Most services run every few minutes, and some run 24 hours a day. Fares are 50pt for standard buses and LE2 for air conditioned services, where standing is not permitted, ensuring a more comfortable, less cramped journey. Bus services are always slower than the metro, due to the heavy congestion on many routes. | + | Cairo and its conurbation have a number of overlapping bus systems. The municipal authority has the most extensive network, branded "CTA". These buses are large single deckers with white colour scheme with the CTA logo displayed in black down the flanks. They operate on fixed routes, indicated by a three digit number. Most services run every few minutes, and some run 24 hours a day. Fares are 50pt for standard buses and LE2 for air conditioned services, where standing is not permitted, ensuring a more comfortable, less cramped journey. Bus services are always slower than the metro, due to the heavy congestion on many routes. |
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| − | Private microbuses also operate and to some degree overlap with other services. Some of these also run 24 hours and can be quicker as they have much shorter loading and unloading times, as they carry few passengers. | + | Private microbuses also operate and to some degree overlap with other services. Some of these also run 24 hours and can be quicker as they have much shorter loading and unloading times, as they carry few passengers. |
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| − | Major stops, and all stops on certain key roads (such as Sh. Al Ahram) have modern shelters, with clearly printed route maps and tables, though unlike the Metro none of these, nor bus numbers, are bi-lingual. | + | Major stops, and all stops on certain key roads (such as Sh. Al Ahram) have modern shelters, with clearly printed route maps and tables, though unlike the Metro none of these, nor bus numbers, are bi-lingual. |
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| | === Airport === | | === Airport === |
| − | Cairo International Airport is a major global hub, and the 2nd busiest airport on the continent. It has three terminals, including the brand new Terminal 3 for EgyptAir flights, and will be connected to Metro Line 3 in future, ending the long road journey to Downtown that plagues travellers. In the meantime the 6th October expressway tunnels have reduced this already, to some extent. | + | Cairo International Airport is a major global hub, and the 2nd busiest airport on the continent. It has three terminals, including the brand new Terminal 3 for EgyptAir flights, and will be connected to Metro Line 3 in future, ending the long road journey to Downtown that plagues travellers. In the meantime the 6th October expressway tunnels have reduced this already, to some extent. |
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| | Cairo is EgyptAir's main hub for both domestic and international flights, with [[Alexandria]] being the secondary hub, operations at the latter being split between two airports. It is possible to fly direct to Cairo from almost all European and Middle Eastern capitals, to several cities in the Americas (mostly on the eastern coastline), and to southern and eastern Asia, where routes are improving. Connections to sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania and Central Asia are less well developed. | | Cairo is EgyptAir's main hub for both domestic and international flights, with [[Alexandria]] being the secondary hub, operations at the latter being split between two airports. It is possible to fly direct to Cairo from almost all European and Middle Eastern capitals, to several cities in the Americas (mostly on the eastern coastline), and to southern and eastern Asia, where routes are improving. Connections to sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania and Central Asia are less well developed. |
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| | ==Culture== | | ==Culture== |
| | ===Pyramids=== | | ===Pyramids=== |
| − | Giza is home to the [[Pyramids]], the only remaining wonder of the world, built around 2500BC to glorify the [[Pharaoh]]s. Millions of visitors come to visit them, and wonder at their construction. With these is the Solar Boat of [[Khufu]], excavated from beside the [[Great Pyramid]] and found in almost perfect condition, disassembled. It has been assembled and now has its own dedicated museum on top of the original spot of its discovery. | + | Giza is home to the [[Pyramids]], the only remaining wonder of the world, built around 2500BC to glorify the [[Pharaoh]]s. Millions of visitors come to visit them, and wonder at their construction. With these is the Solar Boat of [[Khufu]], excavated from beside the [[Great Pyramid]] and found in almost perfect condition, disassembled. It has been assembled and now has its own dedicated museum on top of the original spot of its discovery. |
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| | ===Egyptian Museum=== | | ===Egyptian Museum=== |
| − | Downtown Cairo houses the world famous Egyptian Museum, which has the largest collection of Pharaonic artefacts in the world, including the famous treasure of [[Tutankhamun]]. One of the first curators of the museum, and the Egyptian Antiquities Organisation is buried in its grounds, which also house a pond planted with the now endangered Nile Lotus flower. The museum is one of the oldest in Africa, and was founded in the 1850's, though at a different location to its current home, which dates to the early 20th century, and was purpose built, though long ago exceeded its intended storage and display capacity. | + | Downtown Cairo houses the world-famous Egyptian Museum, which has the largest collection of Pharaonic artefacts in the world, including the famous treasure of [[Tutankhamun]]. One of the first curators of the museum, and the Egyptian Antiquities Organisation is buried in its grounds, which also house a pond planted with the now endangered Nile Lotus flower. The museum is one of the oldest in Africa, and was founded in the 1850's, though at a different location to its current home, which dates to the early 20th century, and was purpose built, though long ago exceeded its intended storage and display capacity. |
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| | ===Coptic Cairo=== | | ===Coptic Cairo=== |