Welcome to this website on Cairo.

The material in the site has been developed in the first instance as a case study resource for NSW Higher School Certificate geography teachers and students studying the "Urban Places" section of the senior geography syllabus. It is also intended however, as a resource for university students studying cities in the less-developed world.

For anyone interested in the dynamics of mega-city growth and the challenges of living in such environments Cairo offers a fascinating focus for study. With a population of over 10 million, Cairo is by far the largest urban agglomeration in Africa and the Middle East. While clearly one of the world's mega-cities, with its important role in Middle East and world politics, its cultural leadership in the Islamic and Arab world, and its developing position in the global economic system it can perhaps also lay claim to be seen as an emerging world city.

A variety of resources have been assembled here to give users a feel for the city - maps, statistical data, photographs and accompanying textual comment, newspaper links, and numerous references. Fieldwork for developing the site was carried out by the author on visits to Cairo in 1997 and 1999.

Work is underway on producing a paper on the city to accompany this website.

Note: Any of the photographs provided on the site may be reproduced in other outlets as long as permission is obtained from Kevin McCracken and the source of the photographs is acknowledged on any such reproductions.