Take a tour of Egypt's famous sites, the Hatshepsut's temple, the Karnak temple complex, and Sharm el-Sheikh
Tour popular Egyptian sights, including Hatshepsut's temple, the Karnak temple complex, and Sharm al-Shaykh.
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Hieroglyphics weren't the only form of ancient Egyptian writing—just the first.Media Editors: Meg Matthias , Lauren Sims
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Britain. Great Britain. The United Kingdom. The British Isles. Which is which?
-
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, MainzLearn about monitoring the Llaima volcano in Chile for signs of an impending eruption.
-
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail © Dmitry Pichugin/Dreamstime.comOverview of the Nile River, 2009.
-
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail © Adrian Martinez/Dreamstime.comOverview of the temple complex at Karnak, Egypt.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Traditional irrigation methods in rural Egypt.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Mosques and other religious architecture in Egypt.
Transcript
Soaring over Egypt in a hot air balloon - a dream. It's not only from the air that you'll get a wonderful look at the landscape and sights of this Arabic nation. Some of the country‘s most important archaeological sites are to be found in and around Luxor, the world's greatest open air museum.
Take the Hatshepsut Temple, for example. It was commissioned by Hatshepsut herself, one of the few female pharaohs. The temple, which is carved into the rock and dedicated to Amun - God of wind and fertility - is approximately 3,500 years old. Innumerable hieroglyphics that never fail to amaze visitors can still be found in the portico.
Just a few kilometers away, on the other side of the Nile, is ancient Egypt's largest temple complex, Karnak. It's 4,000 years old and is made up of three different temple complexes. The site is surrounded by a rampart over two kilometers in length. The construction of Egypt's single most important site of worship took 1,500 years to complete. The portico alone encompasses some 5,000 square meters and is watched over by Ramesses II.
From ancient Egypt's monuments we now dive into another ancient Egyptian realm, the underwater world. At the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula lies Sharm el-Sheikh. The resort is known above all for its reef. This natural wonder is a paradise for divers, tens of thousands of whom come here each year to be amazed and lose themselves in a dream world. The reef at Sharm el-Sheikh is a haven for thousands of fish and corals, many of which are threatened with extinction. But the ecosystem here remains intact and offers an once-in-a-lifetime experience for shrewd divers.
A trip inland to Sharm el-Sheikh itself is also well worth it. The city is famous for its spice shops, which cater for every taste in glorious technicolor. The most exquisite of all the spices available here is saffron. A visit to one of the many little tea and coffee shops will give you an insight into yet another centuries-old tradition: shisha, or hookah smoking. If that's you're thing, then why not while away your day in Sharm el-Sheikh indulging in a very traditional pastime?
Take the Hatshepsut Temple, for example. It was commissioned by Hatshepsut herself, one of the few female pharaohs. The temple, which is carved into the rock and dedicated to Amun - God of wind and fertility - is approximately 3,500 years old. Innumerable hieroglyphics that never fail to amaze visitors can still be found in the portico.
Just a few kilometers away, on the other side of the Nile, is ancient Egypt's largest temple complex, Karnak. It's 4,000 years old and is made up of three different temple complexes. The site is surrounded by a rampart over two kilometers in length. The construction of Egypt's single most important site of worship took 1,500 years to complete. The portico alone encompasses some 5,000 square meters and is watched over by Ramesses II.
From ancient Egypt's monuments we now dive into another ancient Egyptian realm, the underwater world. At the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula lies Sharm el-Sheikh. The resort is known above all for its reef. This natural wonder is a paradise for divers, tens of thousands of whom come here each year to be amazed and lose themselves in a dream world. The reef at Sharm el-Sheikh is a haven for thousands of fish and corals, many of which are threatened with extinction. But the ecosystem here remains intact and offers an once-in-a-lifetime experience for shrewd divers.
A trip inland to Sharm el-Sheikh itself is also well worth it. The city is famous for its spice shops, which cater for every taste in glorious technicolor. The most exquisite of all the spices available here is saffron. A visit to one of the many little tea and coffee shops will give you an insight into yet another centuries-old tradition: shisha, or hookah smoking. If that's you're thing, then why not while away your day in Sharm el-Sheikh indulging in a very traditional pastime?