THE PEOPLE

From the late 19th century to the 1980s the population grew tenfold--the result of high birthrates and migration from the countryside. At the 1976 census the population stood at more than 2,000,000, with half the people under 20 years of age. Projections show that the city will have more than twice that number of people by the year 2000. Most Alexandrians belong to one of two main religious groups, the Egyptian Muslims and the Christian Egyptian Copts.

Government.

In 1895 Alexandria became the first fully constituted municipality in Egypt. Based upon an earlier organization formed by the foreign merchants, it had a high degree of autonomy in financing the city government. After the 1952 revolution the municipality lost its money-raising powers and underwent other changes. In 1960, in accordance with the national government's decentralization policy, the city and its hinterland were incorporated into a muhafazah (governorate). An appointed governor and mostly elected council administer the muhafazah and are responsible to the Ministry of Local Affairs.

Education.

In Alexandria, the great learning centre of the ancient world, the state supervises education, as is the rule throughout Egypt. The state system is divided into primary, preparatory, secondary, and technical schools and is the path taken by the vast majority of Egyptians. A few private schools survive from before the 1952 revolution. The University of Alexandria, founded as a state university in 1942 and accommodating about 100,000 students, lies just east of the city centre. Its library is among the largest in Egypt.

Cultural Life

Alexandria's most important museum, the Greco-Roman Museum, situated behind the Municipality Building on al-Hurriyah Avenue, is noted for its collection of antiquity, most of which comes from finds within the city. Renewed interest in the classical period has revived archaeological exploration, which is focusing on Kawm ad-Dikkah, the underwater site of the Pharos lighthouse, and the search for Alexander's tomb. The Museum of Fine Art, located across the railway line from the city's stadium, presents exhibitions of modern and local art. In addition, two of the royal palaces, Ra`s at-Tin Palace on Pharos island and al-Muntazah Palace at the eastern end of al-Jaysh Avenue are open to the public. Alexandria is well endowed with outdoor recreational establishments. The most popular is the Shallalat Gardens surrounding the remnants of the Arab walls. The Sporting Club and the Smuhah Sports Club provide a variety of sporting facilities. There are also fine botanical gardens and popular weekend beach resorts.

OFFICIAL HOLIDAYS:

January 7 - Coptic Christmas (Christians only) March 26 - Sinai Day May 1 - Labor Day June 5 - Suez Canal Day July 23 - Independence Day October 6 - Armed Forces Day

ENTR REQUIREMENT

All foreigners traveling to Egypt, except those from other Arab countries and Malta, need a visa. Visas are obtainable at Egyptian consulates internationally, and also can be bought at Cairo Airport upon arrival. Immunizations is only required to visitors arriving from sub-Saharan Africa or South America, and then a yellow fever shot is necessary.

ELECTRONICS:

The electric current voltage is 220 Volts, with European-style plugs. For TV broadcasting, Egypt uses MESECAM which is a derivative of the SECAM standard.