Earth observations taken during STS-81 mission

STS081-717-096 (12-22 Jan. 1997) --- The crewmembers, like astronauts 30 years ago, found the Nile River and its conspicuous delta an irresistible photo target from space, in this case from the Space Shuttle Atlantis' overhead windows. The majority of people living in Egypt reside in the city of Cairo. One of the most intensely cultivated lands in the world, the Nile delta can lay claim to some of the highest levels of soil salinity, as well as to being one of the highest users of fertilizer. The majority of Egypt's arable land is located in the delta. Cairo is "young" when compared to Egypt's long history, and has been a city since the Roman Empire. Although the city itself is relatively young, a site on the eastern bank of the Nile became the first capital of Egypt around 4225 BC. The city was called "Oun", but later was renamed Heliopolis by the Greeks. In 1991 the population of Cairo was estimated to be 54,600,000. The Pyramids of Gizai, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, can be seen on the western edge of the Nile delta and Cairo. The smallest and youngest of three Old Kingdom pyramids, Menkaure, is hard to distinguish because of its small size which casts a small shadow. Khafre is located between Menkaure and the Great Pyramid, and was originally 143 meters high. From the ground it appears that Khafre is taller than the other pyramids but this is an illusion caused by Khafre being built on higher ground. Khufu, or the Great Pyramid, was the first of the three to be built, and at an original height of 147 meters, is the tallest pyramid.