Egypt Facts: Waterways

3,500 km (including the Nile, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in the delta). Suez Canal, 193.5 km (including approaches), used by oceangoing vessels, drawing up to about 7295.2 m of water.

Transport facilities in Egypt are centered in Cairo and largely follow the pattern of settlement along the Nile. The main line of the nation's 4,800 kilometer (2,800 mile) railway network runs from Alexandria to Aswan and is operated by Egyptian National Railways. The badly maintained road network has expanded rapidly to over 21,000 miles, covering the Nile Valley and Nile Delta, Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts, the Sinai, and the Western oases.

In addition to overseas routes, Egypt Air provides reliable domestic air service to major tourist destinations from its Cairo hub. The Nile River system (about 1,600 km. or 1,000 mi.) and the principal canals (1,600 km.) are important locally for transportation.

The Suez Canal is a major waterway of international commerce and navigation, linking the Mediterranean and Red Sea. The ministry of transportation, along with other governmental bodies are responsible for transportation in Egypt. Major ports are Alexandria, Port Said, and Damietta on the Mediterranean, and Suez and Safaga on the Red Sea.

Ports and harbors

Mediterranean Sea

• Alexandria Port - Port Authority
• Port Said Port - Port Authority
• Damietta Port - Port Authority
• Marsa Matruh

Red Sea

• Red Sea Port Authority
• Suez Port
• Petroleum Dock Port
• Adabieh Port
• Sokhna Port
• Hurghada Port - Al Ghardaqah
• Safaga Port - Bur Safajah
• Noueibah Port
• Al-Tour Port
• Sharm El-Sheikh Port

Nile River

• Aswan
• Asyut