Introduction
Cairo
[key], Arab. Al Qahirah, city (2021 est. metro. area pop.
21,323,000), capital of Egypt and the Cairo governorate, NE Egypt, a port on
the Nile River near the head of its delta, at the boundary of ancient Upper
and Lower Egypt. The city includes two islands in the Nile, Zamalik (Gezira)
and Roda (Rawdah), which are linked to the mainland by bridges. Cairo is the
largest city in the Middle East and in Africa. It is Egypt's administrative
center and, along with Alexandria, the
heart of its economy. Cairo's manufactures include textiles, food and
tobacco products, chemicals, plastics, metals, and automobiles. Tourism is
central to the local economy. The first railroad in Africa (built 1855)
linked Cairo with Alexandria, and today Cairo has extensive rail facilities
and is also a road and air hub.
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