Cairo, Capital city in northeastern Egypt.
Cairo is the national capital in northeastern Egypt and sits along both banks of the Nile. Multistory residential blocks stand beside mosques with tall minarets and open markets, while wide bridges cross the river and connect densely populated neighborhoods with streets filled with cars, trucks and pedestrians.
The capital was founded in 969 when the dynasty from North Africa conquered the area and built a fortified settlement. Over centuries different rulers took control and added buildings and neighborhoods that made the settlement an important center for trade and learning.
Tea and coffee are served throughout the day in small cafes where men play backgammon and smoke water pipes. The call to prayer sounds five times daily from minarets and interrupts street noise, while families gather for meals at restaurants and street stalls.
Three metro lines connect major districts and help avoid heavy street traffic, though trains are often crowded. It is wise to visit attractions early in the day as afternoon heat becomes intense and streets grow more congested.
Millions of people live in the City of the Dead at the center, a cemetery area where families reside in mausoleums and tomb structures and have formed communities there. This settlement has existed for centuries and is connected by streets that hold shops, cafes and workshops.
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