The Cairo metropolitan area is split by the Nile River at the base of the Nile Delta

iss074e0043697 (Jan. 3, 2026) --- Egypt’s Cairo metropolitan area, with a population of about 22 million, is split by the Nile River and sits at the southern edge of the Nile Delta. At its center, Cairo and its major urban districts have undergone lighting upgrades, replacing older lamps with LED fixtures that emit bright white light. In contrast, Cairo’s suburban areas still use high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps, which produce a warm amber glow. The International Space Station was orbiting 260 miles above Earth at approximately 9:09 p.m. local time when this photograph was taken.