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The Giza Plateau, which contains the Great Pyramids of Egypt and the Great Sphinx, is the centre of the Egyptian tourism industry, and one of the most recognisable landmarks in the world. The Pyramids were built as tombs for the kings and queens of Egypt in the third century BC. Cheops Pyramid, also known as the Great Pyramid of Khufu, is the only one of the original seven wonders of the world to be still standing, and is also an honorary member of the New Seven Wonders, along with the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall. Up until the construction of the Eiffel Tower about 120 years ago, the Great Pyramid of Khufu had been the tallest structure in the world for over four thousand years, with an area of over 13 acres. Cheops Pyramid actually used to be taller by about 33 feet, but a raid by the Ottoman Turks in the 1400s saw much of the high quality limestone casing removed in order to build mosques and houses in Cairo, and it now stands at a mere four hundred and twenty two feet. The Pyramid of Khafre, also known as the second Pyramid, actually looks taller than Cheops Pyramid, but this is merely an optical illusion caused by the fact that it sits on a higher part of the plateau, and also because, unlike Cheops, it still has some of its original casing at the summit. Khafre was the son of Khufur, and while both pyramids are outwardly similar, with a North facing entrance, they are completely different on the inside. The 2nd Pyramid does not have any corridors leading into its centre, so if you want to get to the burial chamber, you have to negotiate a long descending passageway. The smallest of the Great Pyramids is the Pyramid of Menkaure, which is a mere 344 feet wide and 203 feet tall. It is believed that this pyramid was actually meant to be even smaller, but plans were altered midway through construction. Also on the Giza Plateau is The Great Sphinx, which is one of the most instantly recognisable landmarks in the world. It is constructed from soft sandstone, and has spent much of its existence buried in layers of sand, which actually helped to shield it from the effects of erosion for many years.
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This guide to the Giza Plateau in Egypt was written by Sal Greet. For great deals on Egypt holidays, go to the Thomas Cook website.
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