Cairo to Lagos

The Nile is at the heart of Egyptian culture, and Cairo has shifted and grown around the river throughout its lifetime as new islands and land were exposed.

A night-time satellite view of Cairo (the bright spot before the light spreads out in a cone towards the sea) and the Nile Delta. This densely populated region is focused around the life-giving Nile.

A traditional style falucca (sailing boat) made with modern materials on the Nile in Cairo, a perfect example of the way in which ancient and modern influences run alongside each other in the city.

The Nile River running through the centre of Cairo, busy with tourist and commercial boats. The Nile stretches over 6,650 kilometres, making it the longest river in the world.

A 16th century map created by Piri Reis, an Ottoman geographer and cartographer, charting the course of the Nile through Bulaq, which is now part of modern-day Cairo.

Fisherman sail up and down the Nile in Central Cairo, working their nets as they have done for generations. Traditional ways of life in this city have always centred around the Nile.

A satellite view of the Nile Delta; the river easily identified by the lush green vegetation either side. Cairo can be picked out as the grey oval where the river expands out towards the fan-shaped delta.

Since the Nile began to be formally controlled and managed by dams and levees in the 19th century, its course has become fixed, allowing development on both sides of the river up to the banks.

An aerial view of central Cairo. Zamalek Island was formed as the Nile migrated westward, especially during the 11th and 14th centuries when large areas of new land were exposed.

A view of modern Cairo near Zamalek Island. The Nile began to be formally managed with levees and dams in the 19th century, which allowed development on both sides of the channel to flourish.

Faluccas (sailing boats) in the traditional style on the Nile in central Cairo. The Nile is at the centre of many Egyptians' lives, as it has been for generations.

1800 - A map recreating the geography of the Nile Delta as it would have been during the Greek classical period (510 - 323 BC). Cairo is not yet established but you can see its predecessor Babylon.

Cairo townscape from the banks of the Nile, showing a mix of traditional mosques and buildings with the modern office blocks and hotels of the city centre.

The Hanging Church in Old Cairo, one of the oldest churches in Egypt and a key site of worship for Cairo's Coptic Christian community.

The rich interior decoration of the Al Ghuriya Mosque in Old Cairo, celebrating ancient Islamic art and traditions.

A fountain in the inner courtyard of the Mosque of Amr in Cairo, the first mosque to be built in Egypt and in Africa.

Men prepare for afternoon prayer in the Mosque of Amr, the oldest mosque in Egypt. The call to prayer brings worshippers to the mosque multiple times every day.

Ruins of the Fortress of Babylon in Coptic Cairo. The original fortress dates from 525 BC and was established to enforce tolls on travellers and traders passing from the Middle to Lower Nile.

The elaborate towers of the Al Azhar Mosque, which helps to earn Cairo's nickname of "city of a thousand minarets".

Intricate carvings on a door in the Hanging Church in Coptic Cairo, one of the oldest Coptic Christian churches in the world. Coptic Christianity was established in Egypt over 1,900 years ago.

A view towards Mohammed Ali Mosque, Cairo, through traditional shutters made of elborate wood fret-work.

Minarets appear in clusters across the skyline in Old Cairo, reminding us of the thousands of mosques that have been established across the city.

A view of the minarets of the Bab Zuwayla gate in Old Cairo, one of the three gates first installed around the historic city of Cairo. Cairo is known as "the city of a thousand minarets".

The famous spiral minaret of the Mosque of Ahmad ibn Tulun, one of the oldest mosques in the city to survive in its original form. It was built in 876 AD.

A view from the minaret of Ibn Tulun towards the Sultan Hassan and Rifa'i Mosques (left) and the Mosque of Mohammed Ali on the Citadel (right) across Cairo City.

A view from the Saladin Citadel of Cairo, built on the top of Mokattam Hill in the centre of the old city to take advantage of "the fresh breezes and fine views".

The gates of the Citadel of Cairo, with the Mosque of Muhammad Ali on the right, and the green dome of the Al-Nasir Muhammad Qala'un Mosque on the left.

1880 - The Citadel of Cairo, a medieval Islamic fortress, was built between 1176 and 1183 AD to protect the cities of Cairo and Fusat (site of the Mosque of Amr) from the Crusaders.

The Saladin Citadel of Cairo, atop Muqattam Hill near the centre of Cairo, still stands as a lasting and ancient reminder of the range of cultures and people who have influenced the city.

A beautiful detailed mosaic of the Holy Family (Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus) in a Coptic Church in central Cairo. The Coptic branch of Christianity developed in Egypt in the 4th century.

Cairo's modern skyline: Gezira Island along the banks of the Nile. The El Gezira Hilton (centre) and Cairo Tower (right) are the most prominent buildings on the skyline.

The daily hustle and bustle of modern life in Cairo, a city of 17 million people, as seen from the Qasr El Nil Bridge over the Nile River.

Cairo has been growing at a rapid pace since the 1920s. In just 50 years, its population tripled in size and growth continues today with new commercial and residential buildings underway.

A panoramic view of Cairo at night. The bright lights of premium hotels and the headquarters of multinational businesses underline Cairo's economic importance both regionally and nationally.

Commuters waiting to board the Cairo Metro at Saray El Kobba station, the 15th busiest metro system in the world.

Heavy traffic and rush hour traffic jams are often a way of life in Cairo, as 3.5 million people take to its roads to commute every day.

The easily recognisable symbol of the Cairo Metro can be seen all over the city. Each journey costs EGP 1.00 no matter how far you travel, roughly £0.12 or $0.18.

Crowds throng through a bazaar in the centre of Cairo, where shopping and trading takes place between locals and tourists alike.

Schoolgirls on their way back from classes walk through the streets of central Cairo, wearing a mix of traditional and modern styles.

A fruit and vegetable stall with traditional Coptic Christian artwork in the Manshiyat Naser area on the outskirts of Cairo, one of many areas developing on the edge of the city as it grows rapidly.

The meeting room of the Arab League, a regional organisation of six Arab states formed and based in Cairo to promote collaboration and good relations between member countries.

The Mar Gigis Metro station in central Cairo. Cairo's metro system is the only fully-fledged metro system in Africa and transports up to two million people across the city daily.

The modern Cairo skyline, with houses and commercial developments stretching as far as the eye can see. Cairo is the largest city in Africa and is home to 17 million people.