Cairo

I

Introduction

Cairo (Arabic, al-Qahira, “the Victorious”), capital of Egypt, and the largest city in Africa. Cairo is called Misr by Egyptians, that being the Arabic name for Egypt itself, thus showing the centrality of the city in Egyptian life. Located on the River Nile at the base of its delta in northern Egypt, the site has been settled for over 6,000 years, and long served as the capital of historic Egyptian civilizations. Today Cairo is situated in three of Egypt's governing districts: the east bank portion is in al-Qahira district, the west bank in al-Giza, as well as the Qalyubiya governorate to the north. The city is struggling to cope with the problems generated by massive population growth, urban sprawl, and a deteriorating infrastructure. Though rich in culture and history, the city reveals Egypt's growing poverty. Population 7,500,000 (2003 estimate).

II

Economy

Cairo’s economy has traditionally been based on tourism, governmental functions, and other service industries; about one third of all the country’s hotels are located in the city. Cairo is also a significant commercial and banking centre. Industrial production increased in the 1920s and was further revived after 1953, when Egypt was proclaimed a republic. At present, textiles, steel, and motor vehicle manufacture contribute significantly to the city’s economy, as does the production of household appliances and consumer goods; there is also food processing—including production of sugar from sugar cane grown in Upper Egypt—and tobacco processing. Traditionally Cairo has also been known for its artefacts and jewellery. Despite such economic diversity, unemployment in the city remains relatively high.

Cairo, served by an international airport at Heliopolis, is also a major national railway hub. It operates an urban underground railway system, which at the time of its implementation (1987) was the first of its kind in Africa. Nevertheless, traffic congestion as well as air and water pollution give rise to serious environmental concerns.

III

Places of Interest

A

Urban Landscape

Modern Cairo covers an area of over 282 sq km (175 sq mi), though it is hard to separate the city from some of its immediate suburbs. Bracketed by the desert to the east and west, and the Nile delta to the north, the city sits on both banks of the river and includes a number of islands which play an important role in the life of Cairo. The city centre is filled with institutions, commercial establishments, governmental offices, universities, and tourist hotels, creating a dense pattern of constant activity. Standing as an oasis amid the swarm of the city is the island al-Geezera, with its upmarket residential neighbourhood of Zamalek, the Cairo Opera House, opened in 1869, and high-rise hotels. Three bridges link the island with both banks of the river, a second island to the south, al-Roda, is linked by two additional bridges, and a final bridge to the north carries road and rail traffic across the Nile. Cairo spreads farther on the east bank than the west, its hub being at Tahrir Square, which is the site of the Arab League building, the Oman Makran Mosque, and a bus terminal. The airport is approximately 24 km (15 mi) to the north-east, while the Ramses railway station is roughly a mile north of Tahrir Square. Outside the central area old neighbourhoods stretch towards the periphery, where newer suburbs interspersed with recently created migrant neighbourhoods encircle the city. Industrial zones add to the congestion, restricting Cairo's growth.

B

Landmarks

The pyramids of Egypt and the Sphinx, one of the country's most famous and enduring attractions, are located just west of Cairo in the suburb of Giza. One of the most startling aspects of this site for visitors is its close proximity to the city, since photographs generally depict the pyramids against a desert background. Viewed from the opposite side, it is apparent that the growth of Cairo may soon swallow the pyramids into the city itself. More recent in construction but also dramatic are many structures of religious or governmental nature, both historical and modern. The Citadel, in the eastern part of the city, is famous for its mosques and fort. Built by Sultan Salahuddin al-Ayoubi in 1176 ad, the Citadel commands Cairo from high ground. Its ornate structures are part of Cairo's skyline, and the Mohammed Ali Mosque is particularly notable for its storeyed domes and twin minarets, two of the city's famed “thousand minarets”. Old Cairo, or Fustat, has famous gates, the remains of an earlier wall around the city. Of eight original gates only three—Bab Zeuela, Bab al-Nasr, and Bab al-Fotouh—remain, but each is large and imposing in its own style. This so-called Islamic Cairo was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

The markets (suqs) of modern Cairo, many of which specialize in particular items such as foods, or precious metals, link current economies with traditional patterns. Also linking the past and present are the twin cemeteries on the eastern periphery called the City of the Dead. Today, due to housing shortages and poverty, some 500,000 Cairenes live in the tombs and mausoleums of the deceased. Though the situation is not officially sanctioned, it has over time become somewhat formalized, and the city now provides electric and water service to those living in the cemeteries, and life there has created a unique urban landscape.