Ahlan from sunny Egypt!

[Jacqueline Burrell]

I’m editor of two English language magazines published Cairo, both of which regularly include environmental issues, wildlife etc.

My main hobbies are travel [around 60 countries to date], photography, wildlife in general, music, pets and tending my two conservatories, two balconies and very small garden.

In contrast to popular belief, Egypt is much more that the Pyramids and a lot of sand. The country has a surprisingly rich fauna and flora because of the variety of habitats and boasts 262 higher species found nowhere else on earth. About 24 percent of these are classified as threatened, including 19 plants that are endangered. There are also 53 endangered species of fauna.

Its geographic location, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to sub-Saharan Africa by way of the Nile valley and to the Indian Ocean through the Red Sea makes Egypt a superb place to observe the biennial migration. Over 480 species have been recorded here, out of which around 280 are migratory.

I only discovered the website and am looking forward to hours of enjoyment.

[goosey]

Hi Jacqueline, you have just corrected my pre-conceived ideas about Egypt!
It sounds fascinating and much mre green than I would have imagined. It will be great to hear more about the country and the sort of issues you cover in your mags.
Welcome to the site and I look forward to seeing you around, join in and make yourself at home .

[Jacqueline Burrell]

The deserts of Egypt comprise over 90 percent of the land surface but are inhabited by around 5 percent of the population. But you would really be surprised how much life there is in much of the desert and how green the remaining 10 is!

[paul m]

Yes, I suppose that there is a stereotypical view of ruins and sand for Egypt. This sort of thing applies worldwide, I suppose. Hopefully we'll be getting evidence from you to confront our prejudices.
Looking forward to them. Welcome.

One of the great things about a forum like this is that do learn new things about places that we thought we understood ... let alone those places that we didn't know existed!

Originally Posted by Jacqueline Burrell

...................
In contrast to popular belief, Egypt is much more that the Pyramids and a lot of sand. The country has a surprisingly rich fauna and flora because of the variety of habitats and boasts 262 higher species found nowhere else on earth. About 24 percent of these are classified as threatened, including 19 plants that are endangered. There are also 53 endangered species of fauna.

Its geographic location, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to sub-Saharan Africa by way of the Nile valley and to the Indian Ocean through the Red Sea makes Egypt a superb place to observe the biennial migration. Over 480 species have been recorded here, out of which around 280 are migratory.

I only discovered the website and am looking forward to hours of enjoyment.

[mtngoat]

Wow, 60 countries??? hehe, you put me to shame.... lol, I'm very glad t'meet you! I can't wait to hear about the fauna and wildlife in your part of the world!

[black]

Welcome to the site. I spent nine weeks in Egypt back in 1999, a bit longer than I planned whilst we were waiting for Sudanese visas. I do have some fond memories of the place camping out in the Western Desert under the stars, finding sanddollars and one area had loads of sun-bleached white snail shells - very bizarre. The scuba diving in the Gulf Of Aquaba from Dahab was excellent with sightings of a huge Napolean Wrasse. And we had the gardener at the campsite in Aswan showing us his scorpion collection

[Suzanne B]

Hi Jacqueline
And a warm welcome from me too!
I'm really looking forward to hearing and seeing more about your part of the world, it has definately been a missing part of this forum so it's great to have you here!!
Suzanne

[Pudding4brains]

Hi Jaqueline,

Yet another welcome from the Netherlands too

I have been contemplating getting a job in Egypt and go and live there for a a few years to learn Arab for a long time, but never got around to it - maybe your pictures and stories here will make get "a move on"

@mtngoat: Don't despair - over here in Europe and Africa we're cheating count your American States as "countries" (about the same size or bigger) and see where the count gets you

Cheers! Arp

[Jacqueline Burrell]

....and one area had loads of sun-bleached white snail shells - very bizarre.

Much of what is now desert was covered by a pre-historic sea and there are a variety of fossils and corals embedded in the rock.

I would love to upload photos of this area and I have a number of ID queries but I have the message "You may not post attachments" and I can't upload to the gallery either.

I've e-mailed webmaster but no response yet.

Jacqueline

[paul m]

I'm sure Stuart will get back to you but .... the system on this forum is that you upload pictures to one of the galleries and then post a link in a forum if you want to discuss it. Sounds complex but you get used to it.

There are some rules about the types of image that can be up-loaded to the gallery but the most significant is that you cannot load a picture less than 800x600 .... good luck.

Originally Posted by Jacqueline Burrell

....and one area had loads of sun-bleached white snail shells - very bizarre.

Much of what is now desert was covered by a pre-historic sea and there are a variety of fossils and corals embedded in the rock.

I would love to upload photos of this area and I have a number of ID queries but I have the message "You may not post attachments" and I can't upload to the gallery either.

I've e-mailed webmaster but no response yet.

Jacqueline

[ericrovve]

Hello and welcome Jaqueline,
Can't quite see you from here but we share the same sea! I just wanted to say what a cracker of a photo you have of the dunes,
Eric