Climate In Cairo, and along the Nile River Valley, winter high temperatures range from the mid 60s to the upper 70s, while lows drop into the 40s. Summers bring highs in the mid-90s, and lows in the 70s. Rainfall is sparse here, (2-4 inches annually) but sudden showers do cause flooding. Humidity in Egypt is high throughout the year, and in the interior deserts, summer high temperatures often exceed 100º. Conditions moderate along the Mediterranean coastline, and rainfall increases to about 8 inches annually.

Landforms:

Landforms Most of Egypt is covered by the low-lying sand dunes and depressions of the Western and Libyan Deserts. East of the Nile River, the semi-arid Arabian Desert extends to the edges of the Red Sea.

In the far southwest, the land rises into the Gilf Kebir Plateau, with elevations near 2000 ft. Sandstone plateaus front the Nile and the Red Sea, with cliffs as high as 1,800 ft. In the far southeast, the Red Sea Mountains, an extension of the Ethiopian Highlands, continue on into Sudan.

The country is dissected by the amazing Nile River, as it flows north to the Mediterranean Sea from it source in central Africa. The surrounding Nile Valley, 5-10 miles wide, is the country's only fertile land. and home to 98% of the population.

The Red Sea is extended into the Mediterranean by the man-made Suez Canal. The Sinai Peninsula lies east of the canal, and this limestone plateau rises to Mt Catherine in the south.

Lake Nassar, the largest lake, is man-made, and created when the Aswan dam was constructed, then finished in 1970.

Highest Point: Mt. Catherine (2,637 m) (8,652 ft)

Lowest Point: Qattara Depression (-133 m)
 

Natural Hazards:
periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods, landslides; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms, sandstorms