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Aswan أسوان, Egypt

Aswan, EgyptAswan, Egypt
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aswan,_Egypt_2007jan15._21_byDanielCsorfoly.JPG
Author: Daniel Csörföly
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Aswan (Arabic: أسوان) is a city on the southern part of Egypt, best known among tourists as the location for the Abu Simbel Temple. The city of 275,000 people (2011 estimate) is the capital of the Aswan Governorate. It is on the east bank of the River Nile and includes the island of Elephantine.

Old City of AswanOld City of Aswan
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aswan,old_city.jpg
Author: Bertramz
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Many foreigners first heard of Aswan from the Aswan Dam which created the man-made Lake Nasser. The project required the relocation of the ancient Abu Simbel temple. The city of Aswan itself has existed since ancient times, when it was known as Swenet. It was renowned for producing high-quality granite used in the creation of many obelisks of ancient Egypt, as seen in the ancient ruins of Luxor.

Since ancient times, Aswan is the gateway from the south into Egypt. For that reason, the Egyptian Pharoah constructed the Abu Simbel Temple there, in a way to serve as a monumental billboard of his might.

Fatimid Cemetery, AswanFatimid Cemetery, Aswan
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aswan,fatimid_cem.jpg
Author: Bertramz
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Today Aswan is one of the three major cities along the River Nile. It is the smallest of the three, and also one with the hottest climate. The hottest month of the year is August, when temperature regularly breaches 47°C (117°F). The best time to visit is January, when temperature is at its lowest, ranging from 13°C (55°F) to 25°C (77°F).

Visiting Aswan

The most practical way to reach Aswan is by plane. Its airport is located 25 km to the south west of the city center. As an independent traveler, you should take a taxi if you arrive at the airport on your own. Expect security to and from the airport to be tight. The airport receves direct flights from London Gatwick, so you can actually fly direct.

Places of Interest in Aswan

  1. Abu Simbel Temple

  2. Aswan Botanical Gardens

  3. Aswan Dam

  4. Aswan Museum

  5. Elephantine Island

  6. Fatimid Cemetery

  7. Ferial Gardens

  8. Kalabsha Temple

  9. Kitchener's Island

  10. Luxor

  11. Mausoleum of Mohammed Shah Aga Khan

  12. Monastery of St Simeon

  13. Nubian Museum

  14. Philae Temple

  15. Seheyl Island

  16. Temple of Kalabsha

  17. Tombs of the Nobles

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About this website



Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.

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