Matrouh Governorate | |
|---|---|
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.svg) Matrouh Governorate on the map of Egypt | |
| Coordinates:29°40′N27°31′E / 29.66°N 27.51°E /29.66; 27.51 | |
| Country |  Egypt |
| Seat | Mersa Matruh (capital) |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Khaled Shuaib Hussein[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 212,112 km2 (81,897 sq mi) |
| Population (January 2023)[2] | |
• Total | 538,546 |
| • Density | 2.53897/km2 (6.57590/sq mi) |
| GDP | |
| • Total | EGP 116 billion (US$ 7.4 billion) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| HDI (2021) | 0.738[4] high ·10th |
| Website | Matrouh |
Matrouh (Arabic:محافظة مطروح,romanized: Muḥāfaẓat Maṭrūḥ) is agovernorate in north-westernEgypt. It bordersLibya, and its capital isMarsa Matrouh.
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The governorate is divided intomunicipal divisions with a total estimated population as of January 2023 of 538,546.[2]
| Anglicized name | Native name | Arabic transliteration | Population (January 2023 Est.) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Dabaa | قسم الضبعة | Aḍ-Ḍab'ah | 61,363 | Kism (urban and rural parts) |
| El Alamein | قسم العلمين | Al-'Alamayn | 12,398 | Kism (fully rural) |
| El Hamam | قسم الحمام | Al-Ḥammām | 65,780 | Kism (urban and rural parts) |
| El Negaila | قسم النجيله | An-Najīlah | 34,593 | Kism (urban and rural parts) |
| North Coast | قسم الساحل الشمالى-جزء | As-Sāḥal ash-Shamāli | 88 | Kism (fully urban) |
| Sallum | قسم السلوم | As-Sallūm | 20,479 | Kism (urban and rural parts) |
| Mersa Matruh | قسم مرسى مطروح | Marsá Maṭrūḥ | 241,625 | Kism (urban and rural parts) |
| Sidi Barrani | قسم سيدى برانى | Sīdī Barrānī | 66,319 | Kism (urban and rural parts) |
| Siwa Oasis | قسم سيوة | Sīwa | 35,901 | Kism (urban and rural parts) |
The interior of the Matrouh Governorate is part of Egypt'sWestern Desert, including theSiwa Oasis, in antiquity known for its shrine toAmun. In the center of the Governorate is theQattara Depression, descending to 133 metres below sea level.
Marsa Matrouh is the ancientKoine Greek:ΠαραιτόνιονParaitónion,LatinParaetonium. It was the westernmost city of thePtolemaic Kingdom in theHellenistic period. The city ofApis, some 18 km to the west of Paraetonium, marked the boundary to Libycusnome, and theHalfaya Pass (atSallum) marked the boundary toMarmarica proper.
Matrouh Governorate contains many historical sites related toWorld War II. The latter includeel Alamein, which comprises cemeteries of fallen soldiers fromAxis andAllied forces. An estimated 16 million mines,[5] planted by the Europeans during the world wars and called "devil's gardens", still hinder the development of most of the governorate, and are constantly being removed.
According to population estimates, in 2015 the majority of residents in the governorate lived in urban areas, with anurbanization rate of 70.6%. Out of an estimated 447,846 people residing in the governorate, 316,005 people lived in urban areas as opposed to only 131,841 in rural areas.[6]
According to the Governing Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), the following industrial zones are located in Matrouh:[7]
| Zone name |
|---|
| 26 Kilo Industrial Zone, South-East Matrouh Road |
{{cite web}}:Missing or empty|title= (help)| Urban |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Egypt | ||
| Upper Egypt | ||
| Frontier | ||
