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Marsa Matrouh lies 290 km.
West of Alexandria and 222 km. from Sallum.
The distance from Cairo to Matrouh is
524 km. It lies on a bay on the Mediterranean
and is distinguished by its seven km.
long beach, which-as all visitors have
testified-is one of the most beautiful
in the world. |
The beach is famous for its white soft sands
and calm transparent waters, for the bay is
protected from the high seas by a series of
rocks forming a natural wave-breaker, with
a small opening to allow light vessels in.
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This beach dates back to
the days of Alexander, the Macedonian,
when it was known as "Paraetonium"
and also as "Amunia". It said
that Alexander the Great stopped there
during his historical expedition to pay
tribute, and sacrifice, to the god Amun,
at Siwa, so that he becomes Amun's son
and his rule be a historical continuation
of the pharaohs. There are ruins of a
temple from the time of Rameses II (1200
B.C.) in Matrouh. |
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