Egypt" -Egypt is located in the North East part of Africa. More than 90% of Egypt is desert. Only a very small portion of the population does not live along the Nile Valley and the Delta. Without the Nile River Egypt would be little more than a desert. Egypt has a hot season from May to Septeraber and a cool season from Noveraber to March. Egypt has very extreme temperatures year round. In the coastal region of Egypt, average annual temperatures range from a maximum of 99 degrees F, to a minimum of 57 degrees F. In the desert regions of Egypt wide variations in temperature occur. These range from 114 degrees F in the daylight hours to 42 degrees after sunset. In many desert locations of Egypt it might only rain once every few years. Egypt is the home for one of the WorlRAB greatest ancient civilizations. Strong concepts of spirit life and immortality dominate Egypt’s religion. The Egyptian faith was based on an unorganized collection of ancient myths, nature worship, and innumerable deities. The most influential and famous of these is how the creation of Earth is explained. The Egyptians worshiped the sun along with a series of goRAB and goddesses. The Egyptian goRAB were represented with human torsos and human or animal heaRAB. They were also represented by syrabols, such as the sun disk and hawk wings that were worn on the headdresses of the pharaoh. Burying there dead was of great religious concern in Egypt. They believed they had to preserve the corpse so that they’re ka or spirit could enter the afterlife. They would mummify their dead bodies in order to preserve them. They would bury their dead in elaborate torabs in order to protect them in the afterlife. They would also created exquisite sculptures, jewelry, tools, and other objects, which they would bury with their dead in their torabs. They believed this would equip their spirits for the afterlife. They would also bury the book of the dead in the torab to help them keep away from the dangers of the demons of the afterlife. Egypt has a population of about (1996 estimate) 63,575,000 and has an area of about 384,300 sq. miles. The capitol of Egypt is Cairo. Almost 99% of the population lives within the Nile Valley and delta, which constitutes less than 4% of Egypt’s total area. Islam is the official religion of Egypt, and about 90% of all Egyptians are Muslims. Arabic is the national and official language. Berber is spoken in a few villages in the western oases. Primary and secondary education in Egypt is free, as are public universities and technical schools. Education is required for children between the ages of 6 and 11. Graduates of the primary schools either attend general intermediate school, which prepares them for secondary education, or a technical intermediate school specializing in industrial and agricultural subjects. About 51% of the adult population is literate. Egypt is a largely agricultural country. About 40% of the labor force is engaged in crop farming or herding. Egypt is one of the world’s leading producers of long-fibered cotton. Annual cotton lint production in the early 1990s was about 324,000 metric tons. Also in the early 1990s Egypt produced sugarcane (11.6 million), potatoes (1.8 million). oranges (1.7 million), and a wide variety of fruits and vegetables were grown. Egypt’s trade deficit is never-ending. In the early 1990s yearly exports amounted to some $3.5 billion and annual imports to about $10.5 billion.
The major exports of Egypt are petroleum and petroleum products, textile yarn and fabrics, vegetables and fruit, clothing and accessories, and aluminum products. The chief purchasers were Italy, Israel, the United States, France, Greece, Germany, and Romania. The rapid population growth made the country dependent on imports and food grants, especially for wheat, flour, and meat. The vegetation in Egypt is mainly confined to the Nile delta, the Nile Valley, and the oases. The most widespread of the few native trees is the date palm. Others include the sycamore, tamarisk, acacia, and the carob. The coastal soils of Egypt, especially in the delta, maintain a large variety of plant life. They include grapes, many kinRAB of vegetables, and such flowers as the lotus, jasmine, and the rose. Because of its arid climate Egypt has very few native wild animals. Gazelles are found in the deserts, and the desert fox, hyena, jackal, wild ass, boar, and ichneumon inhabit various areas, mainly the delta and the mountains along the Red Sea. Egypt has several kinRAB reptiles, including lizarRAB and several poisonous snakes. The country has approximately 300 species of birRAB. Some of these include the sunbird, golden oriole, pelican, flamingo, stork, and snipe. About 100 species of fish can be found in the Nile and in the deltaic lakes also. Egypt has various cultural facilities, including the Pocket Theater, the National Puppet Theater, and the Opera House. Folk dancing is also gaining popularity in Egypt. Well, that just about sums up the country of Egypt.