Tag Archives: Egypt

Largest underwater painting

The largest underwater painting measured 0.8 m² (8.61 ft²) and was created by Alexander Belozor (Ukraine) at diving site El Mina in the Red Sea, off the coast of Hurghada, Egypt, on 18 December 2010. The painting measured 80 cm x 100 cm (2 ft 7 in x 3 ft 3 in) and depicted a fish in the ocean.

Most heat tolerant animal (land based)

The most heat-tolerant animal (thermophile) is Cataglyphis bicolor, a desert-dwelling scavenger ant which lives in the Sahara desert and forages at a temperature of over 55ºC (131ºF) These thermophilic ants survive in such extreme temperatures in three ways. First, the ants move fairly quickly which minimizes their exposure to the sun. Secondly, their long legs elevate them above the surface of the desert by approximately 4 mm (0.1 in) where the temperature is 6-7ºC (10.8–12.6ºF) cooler. And finally, when they forage the ants have a Continue reading →

Most land mines per country

Although Afghanistan and Iraq are littered with mines or unexploded ordnance (UXO), around 10 million each, neither compares to Egypt, which is blighted by 23 million of them, planted during World War II and the Egypt-Israel wars of 1956, 1967 and 1973. Although 10 million have been cleared from the western desert and the Sinai desert over the years, thousands of people have been killed and Egyptians refer to the minefields as “the Devil’s garden”. UXO deployed

Most two finger push ups (one arm) in one minute

The most two finger push ups (one arm) in one minute is 46 by Mohammed Mohammed Ali Zeinhom (Egypt) in front of the Giza Pyramids in Cairo, Egypt, on 8 March 2010. Zeinhom performed the push ups on a raised table in front of the picturesque pyramids. He completed 46 push ups in 49 seconds before stopping. He chose to perform the push ups using the pointer finger and thumb of his right hand. Witnesses to the event included the Secretary of Higher Committee of Continue reading →

Oldest dog breed

The world’s oldest known breed of domesticated dog is the saluki, believed to have emerged in 329 BC. Saluki dogs were revered in ancient Egypt, being kept as royal pets and being mummified after death.  There are carvings found in Sumer (present-day southern Iraq) which represent a dog, closely resembling a saluki, which date back to 7000 BC.

Fastest vehicle crossing the Gilf Al-Kebir plateau

Hesham Nessim (Egypt) crossed the Gilf Al-Kebir plateau in 5 hr 7 min, achieving the record from south to north of the plateau between Kamal El-din Hussein Memorial and Wadi Abdul Malek, Egypt, on 9 July 2012 The journey started on 9 July 2012 at 7:05 a.m. and ended at 12:12 p.m., covering a 380 km (236 miles). The vehicle used in the record attempt is Volkswagen Amarok.

First zoo

Archaeological discoveries made south of Luxor in Egypt in 2009 suggest the existence of a vast menagerie of animals. 112 creatures in total, including elephants, wildcats, baboons, hartebeests (antelopes), and hippos dating back to 3500 bc. The zoo–likely to have been privately owned as the animals were buried in an elite cemetery–was unearthed during excavations of the ancient settlement of Hierakonpolis. Not only can Hierakonpolis be considered the first zoo, but very significantly, the animals were given special treatment in death; some were covered with Continue reading →

Most times quarantined – domestic animal

The record for the most number of times a domestic animal has been quarantined belongs to Smarty, a ginger cat, who was quarantined for the 40th time in Larnaca, Cyprus, after her 79th flight from Cairo, Egypt on 28 June 2005. Smarty, also holds the record for the ‘most flights by a cat’ and was owned by Peter and Carole Godfrey (UK) in Cairo, Egypt until her death in February 2007. Smarty was a female cat, born on 2 August 1990, and was rescued by Continue reading →

Most blood glucose tests taken in 24 hours

The most blood glucose tests taken in 24 hours is 8,600 and was achieved by the Egyptian Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (Egypt) at the Mall of Arabia in Cairo, Egypt, on 6 December 2013. The event was supervised by the Andalusia Hospitals and the National Diabetes and Endocrinology Institute.