Egypt and Australia

The Arab Republic of Egypt lies in north-east Africa, with a small part (the Sinai peninsula) in Asia. Its area is about 1 million km², population about 110 million and capital Cairo (beside the Nile Delta); a new administrative capital is being built in the east to take over some capital functions. It is washed by the Mediterranean in the north and the Red Sea in the east; the Suez Canal joins the two seas and forms the boundary between Africa and Asia. A large share of world trade passes through the canal, so Egypt’s position is very favourable and canal fees are an important state income. The state is a presidential republic. The land is mostly plain and desert; mountains lie near the Red Sea and in Sinai. The climate is hot and dry with annual rainfall usually under 200 mm; most territory is tropical desert and the Mediterranean coast is subtropical. The only big river is the Nile, which flows from south to north through the desert into the Mediterranean; the Aswan dam forms a reservoir that gives irrigation and electricity. Nile water is the lifeblood of Egypt, so the sharing of water with neighbouring states is a key issue that should be settled through talks. Egypt is among the most populous states in Africa, natural increase is high, and it adds about 1.5–2 million people a year. More than 90 % live in the Nile valley and delta, which make up a few percent of the area and are among the densest places in the world; the rest is almost empty. Urbanisation is about 43 %, and the biggest cities are Cairo, Alexandria and Giza. Nearly everyone is Arab, the main religion is Islam, and about 10 % are Christians (Copts). The economy is agrarian-industrial: oil and gas, textiles, food and chemicals; farming depends entirely on irrigation (cotton, rice, maize, vegetables, fruit). Tourism brings large income thanks to the ancient pyramids, the Sphinx and the temples of Luxor.