Matrouh Governorate

Matrouh is in north-western Egypt.

It sits near a land called Libya. Much of the land is a big desert.

There is a place called Siwa Oasis. It is a green spot in the desert. There is also a low place called the Qattara Depression. It sits below the level of the sea.

Many people live in the towns there. The main town is Marsa Matrouh. It is an old city.

You can find old sites from a big war. Some places have graves for soldiers. Workers still work to clear old mines. This helps the land grow.

It is a place with much history.

Matrouh is in north-western Egypt.

It sits near Libya. Much of the land is part of the Western Desert. One area is the Siwa Oasis. In old times, it had a shrine to Amun. In the center, there is the Qattara Depression. This low spot is 133 metres below sea level.

The main city is Marsa Matrouh. It was once called Paraetonium. Long ago, it was a city in the Ptolemaic Kingdom. Many people live in towns here. In 2015, most people lived in urban areas. These are towns or cities. About 316,005 people lived in these areas.

Matrouh has many sites from World War II. El Alamein has graves for soldiers. There are also many old mines in the land. People call them "devil's gardens." Workers must remove these mines. This helps the area grow. There is also an industrial zone. It is near the South-East Matrouh Road.

Caption: A view of Marsa Matrouh.

Matrouh is a large area in north-western Egypt. It sits right next to the country of Libya. Most of the land is part of the Western Desert. In the middle of this desert is the Qattara Depression. This is a very low spot in the land. It goes down to 133 metres below sea level. One famous place here is the Siwa Oasis. Long ago, people knew it for a shrine to Amun.

The main city is Marsa Matrouh. In very old times, people called it Paraetonium. It was the westernmost city of the Ptolemaic Kingdom. Another ancient city was Apis. It sat about 18 km west of Paraetonium. The Halfaya Pass at Sallum was also a boundary. This pass marked the edge of a place called Marmarica. These old names show how long people have lived here.

Many people live in this governorate. As of January 2023, there were about 538,546 people. In 2015, most people lived in urban areas or towns. About 316,005 people lived in these towns. Only 131,841 people lived in the rural countryside. The area is split into many different divisions. For example, Mersa Matruh has 241,625 people. Sidi Barrani has 66,319 people. El Hamam has 65,780 people.

Matrouh also has a history from World War II. You can find many historical sites from that time. El Alamein is a place with cemeteries for fallen soldiers. These soldiers were from the Axis and Allied forces. There are also many old mines in the ground. People call these "devil's gardens." There are an estimated 16 million of these mines. Workers must remove them to help the area grow.

There are different ways people use the land today. Some areas are used for industry. There is an industrial zone near the South-East Matrouh Road. This is run by the Governing Authority for Investment and Free Zones. Other areas are mostly rural, like El Alamein. That division is described as fully rural. The North Coast is a different kind of place. It is described as a fully urban area.

Matrouh Governorate is a large administrative region in north-western Egypt. It sits along the coast and shares a border with Libya. The area is a vital part of the country's geography. It includes vast stretches of the Western Desert. The capital city of this governorate is Marsa Matrouh. This region serves as a link between the Mediterranean coast and the deep desert interior.

The physical landscape of Matrouh is shaped by dramatic changes in elevation. Much of the interior belongs to Egypt's Western Desert. A major feature in the center is the Qattara Depression. This is a massive low point in the land. It descends to 133 metres below sea level. The region also contains the Siwa Oasis. In ancient times, this oasis was famous for its shrine to the god Amun. This shows how life has existed in the desert for thousands of years.

History is deeply embedded in the soil of Matrouh. The capital, Marsa Matrouh, has ancient roots. In the Hellenistic period, it was known as Paraetonium or Paraitónion. It served as the westernmost city of the Ptolemaic Kingdom. Other ancient landmarks helped define the borders of the past. The city of Apis sat about 18 km west of Paraetonium. It marked the boundary to a region called Libycus nome. Near Sallum, the Halfaya Pass marked the boundary to Marmarica proper.

Modern history also left a significant mark on the landscape. Matrouh contains many sites related to World War II. One notable location is El Alamein. This area contains cemeteries for soldiers who fell during the war. These soldiers belonged to both the Axis and Allied forces. However, the war left behind a dangerous legacy. An estimated 16 million mines were planted by Europeans during the world wars. People often call these mines "devil's gardens." These mines still hinder the development of much of the governorate. Workers must constantly remove them to make the land safe.

The population of Matrouh is divided into several municipal divisions. As of January 2023, the total estimated population was 538,546. These divisions vary in size and type. Mersa Matruh is the largest with 241,625 people. Other divisions include Sidi Barrani with 66,319 people and El Hamam with 65,780 people. El Dabaa has 61,363 people. The Siwa Oasis division has 35,901 residents. Smaller divisions include El Negaila with 34,593 people and Sallum with 20,479 people. El Alamein has 12,398 people, while the North Coast is a small urban division of 88 people.

Demographics show a clear trend toward urban living in the region. In 2015, most residents lived in urban areas. The urbanization rate was 70.6% at that time. Out of an estimated 447,846 people, 316,005 lived in urban areas. Only 131,841 people lived in rural areas. The different divisions are categorized by how they are used. Some are "Kism," which means they have both urban and rural parts. Others, like El Alamein, are described as fully rural. The North Coast is categorized as a fully urban division.

Economic activity is supported by specific industrial zones. The Governing Authority for Investment and Free Zones, known as GAFI, manages these areas. One specific location is the 26 Kilo Industrial Zone. This zone is situated on the South-East Matrouh Road. These zones help organize the industrial growth of the governorate. By separating industry from rural and urban living, the region manages its resources. This structure helps the governorate function despite the challenges of the desert environment.