Overview
Cairo is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world, with a metropolitan population of over 22 million people. It is located in northern Egypt on the banks of the Nile, just south of where the river splits into the branches that form its delta. The Greater Cairo region is the largest urban area in Africa and the Middle East.
Geography and Physical Features
Cairo lies in a transitional zone between the lower Nile Valley and the delta, with the river flowing through the city center. The city is surrounded by desert on its eastern and western flanks. Cairo's elevation is generally low, with the historic center sitting at about 23 meters above sea level.
Significance
Cairo is sometimes called "the city of a thousand minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, and its historic core is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded in AD 969 by the Fatimid dynasty, Cairo has been a major center of Islamic scholarship and culture for over a millennium. Al-Azhar University, founded in AD 970, is one of the oldest continuously operating universities in the world.
Notable Facts
The Great Pyramids of Giza, among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, stand just outside Cairo and date back about 4,500 years. The Egyptian Museum holds the world's largest collection of pharaonic antiquities, including the treasures of Tutankhamun. Cairo's metro, opened in 1987, was the first underground system in Africa.