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The Governorate of Giza
forms a unique suburb of Cairo on the
River Nile. Together with Qalubeyya Governorate,
and the eastern and southeastern parts
of Cairo, the three parts are known as
greater Cairo. |
Stretching 18 km westwards
from the Nile to the Pyramids, adjoining
Dokki to the north and petering out into
fields to the south, Giza covers some
4,700 square kilometers and is the third
largest city in Egypt
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Stretching 18 km westwards from the Nile to
the Pyramids, adjoining Dokki to the north
and petering out into fields to the south,
Giza covers some 4,700 square kilometers and
is the third largest city in Egypt.
The word "Giza" is thought to be
of Arabic origin that means "a crossing,"
referring to the fact that it was where they
crossed the Nile at the time of the Arab conquest.
Giza’s historical involvement does not
end here, as it happens to be one of Egypt’s
richest governorates in ancient remains. It
contains the largest number of pyramids, including
the three great Pyramids, (one of the seven
wonders of the world), as well as the great
Sphinx. Giza also holds the site of Egypt’s
first capital, Memphis, founded by the Pharaoh
Narmer (Menes), founder of the first Dynasty
and the unifier of the two lands, Upper and
Lower Egypt.
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While not being the capital,
Giza is home to most foreign embassies
and government offices. Moreover, it
has many luxurious apartment buildings
along the Nile, making it a preferred
residential area. It is surely a vibrant
city as well as an administrative, cultural,
and commercial centre.
Cairo University, one of the Middle
East’s most prominent universities,
happens to be one of Giza’s landmarks.
It was founded in 1908 and moved to
its current location in 1924.
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A number of major museums can also be found
in Giza, such as the Zoological Museum, Botanical
Museum, Museum of Modern Art, Mahmoud Mokhtar
Museum and Muhammad Mahmoud Khalil Museum.
Additionally Giza is home to one of the biggest
and oldest zoos in the Middle East and the
first media production city built in Egypt
and the Middle East
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