Egypt with the capital city Cairo is located in Africa (Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea). It covers some 1,001,450 square kilometres (slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico) with 81,713,000 citizens.

About the flag and history of Egypt

Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the national emblem (a gold Eagle of Saladin facing the hoist side with a shield superimposed on its chest above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white) note: similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars in the white band, Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and Yemen, which has a plain white band.

The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west, allowed for the development of one of the world's great civilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C., and a series of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Completion of the Suez Canal in 1869 elevated Egypt as an important world transportation hub. Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt''s government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty from Britain in 1952. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government has struggled to meet the demands of Egypt''s population through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure. Inspired by the 2010 Tunisian revolution, Egyptian opposition groups led demonstrations and labor strikes countrywide, culminating in President Hosni MUBARAK''s ouster. Egypt''s military assumed national leadership until a new parliament was in place in early 2012. The same year Muslim Brotherhood candidate, Mohammed MURSI, won the presidential election and a new constitution was affirmed.

National administrative regions of Egypt

• Ad Daqahliyah
• Al Bahr al Ahmar
• Al Buhayrah
• Al Fayyum
• Al Gharbiyah
• Al Isma'iliyah
• Al Jizah
• Al Minufiyah
• Al Minya
• Al Qahirah
• Al Qalyubiyah
• Al Wadi al Jadid
• Alexandria
• As Suways
• Aswan
• Asyut
• Bani Suwayf
• Bur Sa'id
• Dumyat
• Eastern Province
• Egypt (general)
• Kafr ash Shaykh
• Matruh
• Muhafazat al Uqsur
• Muhafazat Janub Sina'
• Muhafazat Shamal Sina'
• Qina
• Suhaj

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