Tag Archives: Egypt

Fastest vehicle crossing the Egyptian western desert

The fastest vehicle crossing the Egyptian western desert is 13 hr 33 min and was achieved by Hesham Nessim (Egypt) between Siwa Oasis, and Abu Simbel in Egypt, on 10 November 2009. The record was part of Guinness World Records day (12 November 2009). The journey started from Siwa Oasis in the far north west of Egypt on the 10 of November 2009 at 6.30 am covering a distance of approx. 1370 km till the ending point in Abu Simbel which is situated in the Continue reading →

First peace treaty

The earliest known surviving peace treaty was drawn up in 1271BC and signed by the Egyptian pharaoh, Ramses II (Ramses the Great), and Hattusilis III, King of the Hittites. Two copies of the treaty were made, one in hieroglyphics, the other in the Mesopotamian language of Akkadian (or Babylonian-Assyrian). In the treaty, both parties not only agreed to end years of warring between Egypt and Hatti (in present-day Turkey), but also to a mutual alliance in the event of foreign or domestic aggression and to Continue reading →

First surviving personal name

The earliest surviving personal name is seemingly that of a predynastic king of Upper Egypt ante 3050 BC, who is indicated by the hieroglyphic sign for a scorpion. It has been suggested that the name should be read as Sekhen. Information from Archives (e.g.1994). Submitted for use in Scholastic’s Modern Marvels.

Highest concentration of Eocene whales

Wadi Al-Hitan (Valley of the Whales), is a protected area of some 20,015 ha in the Western Desert of Egypt. Fossil whales were first discovered here in 1905 and, since then, some 379 have been discovered, dating from the Eocene period, 56 to 34 million years ago. These whales cover an evolutionary period of 4 million years, from when the valley was beneath the Tethys Sea. Many of these fossils reveal that, during this period, ancient whales were in the process of losing their hind Continue reading →

Largest cheese slice

The largest cheese slice weighs 135.5 kg (298 lb 11.68 oz) and was created by Halayeb Katilo Co (Egypt) in Cairo, Egypt, on 13 July 2012. The slice measured 1.14 m (3 ft 8.88 in) by 0.79 m (2 ft 7.1 in) by 0.15 m (5.91 in). The cheese was made in January 2011 and left to mature until the event.

Largest food court

The largest food court is Oasis restaurants and entertainment, in Cairo, Egypt. With a total floor area of 41,000 m² (441,318 ft² 80 in²), it comprises 25 restaurants and cafes with a total seating capacity of 4,223. Oasis was inaugurated on 4 August 2011. Oasis food court has a kids zone for toddlers to 16-years-olds, and a car park that can hold up to 1,000 vehicles.

Largest hypostyle (pillared) hall

The hypostyle (pillared) hall of the temple of Amon-Re at Karnak in Egypt had a roof supported by 134 giant columns and is 102 m (335 ft) long and 53 m (174 m) wide, giving it a floor area of approximately 5,000 m² (54,000 ft²). This is big enough to accommodate nearly 26 tennis courts. It was commissioned by Ramses I in around 1290BC.

Largest oasis

The Nile Valley and Delta is the most extensive oasis on Earth, covering approximately 22,000 km² (8,500 miles²). Without the Nile, Egypt would be entirely composed of desert. The River Nile has a total length of 6,695 km (4,160 miles).