Egypt

In Giza, an exalted complex of grand pyramids and the Great Sphinx overlooks the fashionable megacity of Cairo and its densely-populated suburbs. The famed Nile and its tributaries, with their powerful waters and bustling ports, bring lush greenery to everywhere they touch. Palm trees and olive trees thrive around the seven serene oases in the Western Desert, also home to innumerable ancient sites. In Alexandria, a vibrant Mediterranean port city named after the notorious Macedonian emperor, tourists and locals alike party on beaches and frequent historical sites. The Sinai Peninsula features ivory beaches, world-renowned resort cities, and an array of sacred sites. Near the southwestern beach town of Hurghada, visitors from around the world scuba dive in the quaint Red Sea. This is all in Egypt: the land of history, folk and popular culture, and the Nile.

Egypt traces its rich history to hunter-gatherers (who lived in the interior) and fishers (who lived along rivers and coasts). While the grassy region was experiencing desertification, these groups developed civilizations, especially around bodies of water. Eventually, two kingdoms—one in Lower Egypt and one in Upper Egypt— arose, each with their own crowns. Around 3000 BC, a king named Narmer combined the two kingdoms.

Today, countless tourists flock to Egypt to enjoy sights such as the great pyramids, valley of the kings, valley of the queens, and numerous tombs and museums open to the public.