Earth observations taken during STS-77 mission

STS077-732-089 (19-29 May 1996) --- This photograph encompasses an area comprising 99 percent of the Egyptian population of close to 60 million people. North is roughly to the right side of the photograph. Cairo, the capital and principal city, lies at the apex of the Nile Delta. Alexandria is in the top right corner of the frame. The Suez Canal connects the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea and is in the bottom of the photograph. The Delta itself is 100 miles long and 160 miles wide at the coast. This view brings out the details of the Eastern Desert that rises abruptly from the Nile valley. This desert supports some vegetation in contrast to the sandier Western desert. It has more relief with some of the peaks rising to 6,000 feet. Rainfall in the region ranges from a high of 7 inches at Alexandria to 0.1 inch in the Eastern Desert. Most of Egypt’s mineral resources are concentrated in this area.