Top 11 Exciting Fun Facts About Cairo: Discover the Secrets of Egypt's Capital

1. Pyramid Building Challenge

Move over, LEGO, we've got the ultimate building challenge right here: The Great Pyramid of Giza in Cairo, Egypt, boasts around 2.3 million roughly-dressed stones, weighing a whopping 6 million tonnes! With only three known chambers inside (one unfinished and two sporting granite sarcophagi), it definitely earns its title as the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Koshary: Egypt's Ancient Pasta Party

Breaking up the "pasta-tively" mundane: Koshary, Egypt's national dish, can trace its humble roots back to Ancient Egyptian times! This scrumptious meal, originally dubbed "Koshir," was a breakfast staple, featuring lentils, wheat, chickpeas, garlic, and onions simmered to perfection in clay pots. Nowadays, koshary has evolved into a mouthwatering street food, boasting an irresistible combo of pasta, rice, vermicelli, lentils, generously smothered in a tantalizing tomato sauce, garlic vinegar, and crowned with crispy fried onions. Feeling adventurous? Toss in some garlic juice, chickpeas, or even hot sauce for that extra kick!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Did you know that the "pharaoh of sunscreen" Franz Greiter invented the sun-defending Glacier Cream in the 1930s, introducing the world to SPF and revolutionizing sun protection? Discover how this invention led to a multi-billion dollar industry! 🌞💡

=> Fun Facts about Egypt

3. Cairo's Rare Snow Surprise

Cairo, the city where ice skates may have seemed as useful as an ejector seat in a helicopter, found itself upending this expectation: In December 2013, Cairo experienced its first snowfall since 1901 due to an exceptional convergence of weather conditions.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Great Pyramid: World's Tallest for 4,000 Years

Eons before skyscrapers reached for the clouds, a mighty, stone-encrusted edifice held its own: the Great Pyramid of Giza casually stood as the world's tallest man-made structure for a staggering 4,000 years, topping out at 481 feet. Pharaoh Khufu must be 'phloating' with pride, knowing that his eternal crib remains a legendary showcase of ancient Egyptian architectural genius and a fabulous tourist destination that even welcomes and accommodates wheelchair users with accessible transportation options.
Source => wheelchairtravel.org

5. Cairo-wood: Egypt's Film Kingdom

Who needs Hollywood when you've got Cairo-wood? That's right, folks: Egypt was one of the first countries in the Middle East to establish a film industry, dominating the Arab and Middle Eastern cinematic scene since the 1950s, and is still the undisputed Pharaoh of producing mainstream films in the region today.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Pigeon Fanciers Keep Kids' Spirits High

In a city where pigeons rule the roost and the skies are like your friendly neighborhood bar, where everybody knows your name and they're always glad you came: Cairo's pigeon fanciers are elevating their game with good old-fashioned friendly rivalry. These enthusiasts breed pigeons in underprivileged neighborhoods, inherit flocks from their fathers, and engage in unique competitions to lure and trap rival birds, ultimately keeping kids away from drugs, off the streets, and out of crime.
Source => amusingplanet.com

7. Magical Teachers of Al-Azhar University

If you thought Hogwarts was the only place producing magical teachers, Al-Azhar University in Cairo has got you spellbound: As the Centre of Knowledge for Islamic education since the Fatimid Caliphate in 972, its prestigious curriculum has sent graduates worldwide, including leading Shariah and theology faculties in Malaysian universities.
Source => cambridge.org

8. Eco-friendly Zabbaleen Trash Collectors

In a plot twist worthy of the Oscar-winning animated film Wall-E, Cairo's real-life leading trash-collecting protagonists are surprisingly eco-friendly: Cairo's primarily Coptic Christian Zabbaleen community has been informally collecting and recycling up to 80% of the city's waste since the 1940s, far surpassing Western garbage collecting companies' 20-25% recycling rates.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. Cairo Metro: Africa's First Underground Hero

Hold on to your fezzes, folks, because Cairo's Metro is the underground hero we didn't know we needed: Since 1987, it stands as the first full-fledged metro system in both Africa and the Arab world, boasting three operational lines, 74 stations, and a daily ridership of 3.6 million passengers – making it one of the busiest in the Middle East!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

10. Ancient Egypt's Historical Labor Strike

Even mummy maestros need a break: The first-ever labor strike in recorded history took place in ancient Egypt around 1170 BCE, when artisans working on a necropolis under Ramses III's rule downed tools and marched onto officials to demand their overdue food rations – a protest that led to an increase in supplies and workers.
Source => nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu

11. Cheops' Solar-Powered Cruise

Forget building an ark – ancient Egyptians went for a solar-powered cruise instead: The Solar Boat of Cheops, a cedar wood ship used in religious rituals during Pharaonic times, is the only intact solar boat ever discovered, consisting of 1,224 pieces of wood and dating back to around 1985 BCE. Unearthed in 1954 near the Great Pyramid in Giza, it now resides in the Solar Boat Museum for all to appreciate.
Source => ask-aladdin.com