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Cairo (Arabic Al Qahira, meaning "the Victorious") is capital of Egypt (Misr) and the largest city in Africa. Located on both banks of the Nile River near the head of the river's delta in northern Egypt, the site has been settled for more than 6,000 years and has served as the capital of numerous Egyptian civilizations. Cairo is marked by the traditions and influences of the East and the West, the ancient and the modern. However, the city also reflects Egypt's problems with poverty, and it struggles to cope with problems caused by massive population growth, urban sprawl, and a challenged infrastructure. The city receives goods shipped on the Nile at the river port of Bulaq, located at the northern end, and Cairo is connected by train service to other major cities. Traffic congestion is a growing problem in Cairo although a subway system opened in the city in 1987 has helped.
Cairo covers an area of more than 453 sq km (more than 175 sq miles). With the desert to the east, south, and west, and the fertile Nile delta to the north, Cairo sits astride the river. Cairo also includes several river islands, which play an important role in the life of the city. As the region's principal commercial, administrative, and tourist center, Cairo contains many cultural institutions, business establishments, governmental offices, universities, and hotels, which together create a dense pattern of constant activity.
Cairo is the chief commercial and industrial center of Egypt. Local industries manufacture cotton textiles, food products, construction supplies, motor vehicles, aircraft, and chemical fertilizers. Iron and steel are produced just outside the city. Cairo is also a center for government activities and service industries. Because of the city's warm climate and numerous historical and cultural attractions, tourism plays an important role in its economy. Cairo is an important center for publishing and other forms of media. Its newspapers, which include Al Ahram (founded in 1875) and Al Akhbar (1952), exert wide influence within the Islamic world, as does Radio Cairo.
"Cairo (Egypt)," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2003
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History of the Relationship
