Hurghada

Government

Hurghada (Arabic: الغردقة, standard Arabic: al- ġurdaqa, in the local dialect: il - ġurdaga, in the Cairo dialect / standard dialect pronunciation: [ el ɣæɾdæʔæ ] ) is the largest Egyptian tourist center on the Red Sea. Hurghada has about 160,000 inhabitants, of whom about 10,000 without legal residency papers, mostly from the Nilstädten.

Description

Hurghada is developed since the 1980s by American, European and Arab investors by far the leading resort on the Red Sea. The greatest part provide visitors from Germany, England, Russia and the former Soviet republics. Hurghada has it developed into a tourist resort, which extends along the coast. Many extensive tourist facilities and new apartment buildings are inspired by oriental styles. Near the town is the Hurghada International Airport.

The coastal agglomeration of Hurghada, stretching for some 30 km, consists of:

• The original center ad - Dahar (Downtown ) in the north - initially an administrative center for the oil fields in the Gulf of Suez
• The south of this location, tourist area as- Siqala ( the signpost marking the most consistently used is El Sekalla )
• Extending along the coast because a chain-like following and extending far to the south areas of holiday packages and luxury hotels.

The name is derived from the term for " jetty " from. A harbor there was not here earlier.

The high tourist traffic exceeds the local population not only in the high season many times. Still has formed by the Muslim culture and the consequent rather hesitant awarding of liquor licenses on the wide beach promenade Sheraton Road in as- Siqala and in the pedestrianized zone in ad - Dahar not have a distinctive nightlife. Hurghada is the first place in Egypt with an alcohol-free hotel.

Hurghada consists of three districts:

• El Dahar, the old town, where still pulsates the typical Egyptian life.
• Al- Sakkala, is the tourist district with many hotels, restaurants and shops.
• Al- Ahiaa, north of El Dahar, with many hotels under construction.

In Hurghada and surroundings are very different hotel complexes. Above all water sports facilities for wind surfing, sailing, deep-sea anglers, divers and snorkelers to 20 km of white sand beaches are accessible almost only by the hotels by fencing commanded. At the south end of the hotel zone you will find a few easily accessible coral reefs, the best places are, however, off the coast. Numerous dive safari tours that lead to the farther reefs in the Red Sea, start and end in the yacht - port of Hurghada.

Sahl Hasheesh is planned as a region with luxury resorts in the initial construction phase and is currently undergoing a standstill. The area is located about 20 km south of Hurghada airport and to be a luxury resort not only for golfers with five different golf courses, the bay and a 11 km long palm-lined promenade.

Still further to the south are Makadi Bay, Soma Bay, Safaga (60 km), the port city of the Ottoman Empire al - Quseir (207 km), Marsa Alam (271 km), and Bernice (400 km). The administrative boundary with Sudan is in ash- Schalatim (490 miles) is reached, the bilateral controversial international legal limit is still 140 km to the south exactly on 22 degrees north latitude (see Hala'ib - triangle). The area mainly north of Marsa Alam is funded by a state development program and to replace in the next few decades Hurghada.

In the north of Hurghada, 22 km away, is the holiday area of ​​El Gouna, one of innumerable lagoons, criss-crossed, completely new resort. Only founded in the 1980s by the Egyptian architect Samih Sawiris, El Gouna has been continuously strengthened, and where there was only a sandy desert strip between the sea and coastal mountains before, now an artificial small town of hotels and apartment complexes has emerged.

Climate

Hurghada is climatically characterized by very few precipitates only in the mild winter months there are a few rainy days. The location on the Red Sea means that the highest values ​​during the day and the lowest values ​​at night are very close together, on average, the difference is about 5 ° C. In summer, the maximum values ​​rise to over 30 ° C, in winter the minimum temperatures fall below 15 ° C. hardly

Attractions

The Coptic St. Schinuda - father - the - hermit - church in the district ad - Dahar (7 km north of Hurghada) was built in 1922 in the British style. It lies on the four-lane Sulaiman - Mazhar Street. It was named after the holy Atripe, the "father of hermits ". The church was demolished in late 2008 and replaced by a new building now completed. At the church an information center is connected.

The Dahar district is also considered the historic center of Hurghada. You experience a living oriental Bazaar with typical souvenir shops and historic buildings.

The St. Anthony's monastery was founded in the year 356 on the cave of St. Anthony. The St. Paul's Monastery is according to tradition, at the place where the hermit Paul retired at the time of the Roman persecution of Christians.

Not allowed to enter mosques in Hurghada by non-Muslim tourists and the public. What else is allowed in the country ( subject to certain rules ), is expressly prohibited in Hurghada. This is justified by the high number of tourists, so we granted them a cursory glance through the doors. The Aldahaar Mosque is the most famous religious monument in Hurghada.

This small aquarium is located in the vicinity of the hospital in the northern district ad - Dahar. It is home to various species of fish from the region. In addition to the aquatic animals and taxidermy specimens are to be admired.

The new Marina ( Marina ) was opened on 6 June 2008 and is located in the district Sekalla (height mosque at the Sheraton Road). At 120,000 m² 100 stores in the sectors of food, clothing and food to their goods and services. In the harbor the ships and hydrofoils leave from Sharm el- Sheikh.

Excursions by bus to the sights in the Nile Valley (Luxor / Karnak ) and Cairo are offered by all hotels and several local travel agencies.

West of Hurghada stretches the Arabian Desert. For day trips, you have the possibility to walk on sand dunes and villages to visit the Bedouins. A camel ride is usually also on the program.

Environmental damage

By anchoring boats diving tourists, the high total number of dives with partially ill-trained recreational divers and the lack of environmental awareness among the local population, the reefs have taken heavy damage before Hurghada. You are in the long run severely damaged or even destroyed. In addition, many wastes are thrown from the boats directly into the sea. The seabed under the lands and berths is often covered with garbage, arising from the hazards to animals and humans.

Sports

Since 2004, a billiards tournament Carambolageturnierserie of the three-band world cup takes place every year in Hurghada. In this tournament, the world's best players compete in the three-band discipline. In December 2012, the last tournament of the year took place there. Defending champion was the Swede Torbjörn Blomdahl, Frédéric Caudron winner was from Belgium. In 2013, the city was able to secure the discharge. Traditionally, the tournament then again early December.