Cairo is one of the largest cities in Africa and an important cultural and political center.

Cairo's location near the Nile River helped it grow as a historic trade and education hub.

Cairo faces challenges like rapid growth, traffic, and pollution but remains Egypt's economic heart.

Cairo is the capital of the North African country Egypt. It is one of the largest cities in the world and the largest in Africa. Cairo is very densely populated and is the center of Egypt's culture and politics. It's located near some of the most famous remnants of Ancient Egypt, such as the Pyramids of Giza.

Because present-day Cairo is located near the Nile River, it has long been settled. In the 4th century CE, Romans built the Babylon Fortress down on the banks of the river. In 641 CE, Muslims took control of the wider Egyptian region and moved its capital from Alexandria to the new, growing city of Cairo. At this time the city was called Fustat, and the region became a center of Islam. In 750 the capital was moved slightly north of Fustat, but by the 9th century, it was moved back.

In 969 CE, the Egyptian region was taken from Tunisia, and a new city was built north of Fustat to serve as its capital. The city was called Al-Qahira, which translates to Cairo. Shortly after its construction, Cairo became the center of education for the area. Despite Cairo's growth, however, most of Egypt's governmental functions were still in Fustat. In 1168, when the Crusaders entered Egypt, Fustat was intentionally burned down to prevent the destruction of Cairo. Egypt's capital was then moved to Cairo. By 1340 its population had grown to nearly 500,000, and it was a growing center for trade.

Cairo's growth began to slow beginning in 1348 and lasting into the early 1500s. The main reasons for this population loss were the outbreak of numerous plagues and the discovery of a sea route around the Cape of Good Hope, which allowed European spice traders to avoid Cairo on their routes east. In addition, in 1517, the Ottomans took control of Egypt, and Cairo's political power diminished as government functions were mainly conducted in Istanbul. In the 16th and 17th centuries, however, Cairo grew geographically as the Ottomans worked to expand the city's borders out from the Citadel that was constructed near the city's center.

In the mid-to-late 1800s, Cairo began to modernize. In 1882, the British entered the region and the economic center of Cairo moved closer to the Nile. At this time, 5% of Cairo's population was European. From 1882 to 1937, Cairo's total population grew to over one million. In 1952, much of Cairo was burned in a series of riots and anti-government protests. Shortly thereafter, Cairo began to grow rapidly again. As of 2018, its city population was over nine million, while the population of the greater Cairo metropolitan area was over 20 million. In addition, several new developments have been built nearby as satellite cities of Cairo.

Cairo is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. The city suffers from traffic and high levels of air and water pollution. However, its metro transit system is one of the busiest in the world, and it is the only one in Africa.

Today, Cairo is the economic center of Egypt, and much of Egypt's industrial products are either created in the city or pass through it on the Nile River. Despite its economic success, its rapid growth has meant that city services and infrastructure cannot keep up with demand. Efforts are underway to grow infrastructure rapidly, and, as a result, many of the buildings and roads in Cairo are very new.

Today, Cairo is the center of the Egyptian education system; there are a large number of universities in or near the city. Some of the largest are Cairo University, the American University in Cairo, and Ain Shams University.

Cairo is located in the northern part of Egypt, about 100 miles (165 kilometers) from the Mediterranean Sea. It is also about 75 miles (120 km) from the Suez Canal. The city's total area is 175 square miles (453 square kilometers). Its greater metropolitan area, which includes nearby satellite cities, extends to 33,347 square miles (86,369 sq km).

Because the Nile, like all rivers, has shifted its path over the centuries, there are parts of the city that are very close to the water, while others are farther away. Those closest to the river are Garden City, Downtown Cairo, and Zamalek. Prior to the 19th century, Cairo was highly susceptible to annual flooding. At that time, dams and levees were constructed to protect the city. Today, the Nile is shifting westward, and portions of the city continue to get farther from the river.

The climate of Cairo is desert, but it can also get very humid due to the proximity of the Nile River. Windstorms are also common, and dust from the Sahara Desert can pollute the air in March and April. Precipitation from rainfall is sparse, but when it does occur, flash flooding is not uncommon. The average July high temperature for Cairo is 94.5 degrees F (35 degrees C); the average January low is 48 degrees F (9 degrees C).