Egyptian pyramids

The Egyptian pyramids consist of three giant stone constructions rising from the Giza Plateau, with the largest reaching 146 meters in height and built from roughly 2.3 million blocks averaging 2.5 tons each. Each construction contains burial chambers, passageways, and original limestone casing, though only remnants of this outer layer remain visible on the upper portion of the middle structure.

Construction of the largest structure began around 2560 BCE under Pharaoh Khufu in the Fourth Dynasty, remaining the tallest building on earth for 3800 years. The two other monuments were erected for Pharaohs Khafre and Menkaure in the following decades, with the entire complex completed during the Old Kingdom and later visited by Greek and Roman travelers.

The massive stone monuments still rise from the desert, where visitors experience how local camel handlers and vendors continue centuries-old trading traditions by offering their services near the ancient site. At the foot of the structures, international travelers mix with Egyptian families who drive out to the desert on weekends, setting up picnics and spending time in this famous landscape.

The plateau sits roughly 18 kilometers from central Cairo and is reachable by taxi, bus, or organized tour. General admission allows access to the grounds, while separate tickets are needed to enter the interior chambers. Early morning visits between November and March provide cooler temperatures, and camels and guides are available on site, with prices best negotiated in advance.

Geological studies confirm that workers transported limestone blocks from quarries to the site using artificial water channels, harnessing annual Nile floods to move heavy loads on wooden sledges. This method explains how builders moved materials over long distances without modern machinery, while excavations have uncovered remnants of this hydraulic infrastructure in the surrounding area.

GPS coordinates: 29.97250,31.12833

Latest update: December 2, 2025 21:14