Ras el-Barr

Ras Elbarr (رَاس اَلْبَرّ Rās el-Barr, ), which is translated to "Cape of the Land", is a resort city in the Governorate of Damietta, Egypt. It is located on the Mediterranean Sea at the mouth of the Damietta Nile branch. There are approximately 25,000 permanent residents in the city. However, during the summer peak holiday season, from July to September, the population quickly expands to over 250,000.

Location
Ras El Bar lies on a peninsula along the Mediterranean Sea, and it is bordered to the west by the Damietta Nile branch. The region of "Lessan" resides in the northernmost part of this peninsula. At this juncture, the Damietta Nile arm converges with the Mediterranean Sea, imparting a triangular shape to Ras El Bar.

Climate
The climate of Ras El Bar is classified as hot desert (BWh) by Köppen-Geiger system although tempered by the proximity to the Mediterranean Sea.

Geomorphology
While Ras El Bar is within the Nile Delta, its sandy soils are due to predominant coastal processes with much of the city lying on the foreshore dune structures. Older portions of the city are in the natural levee of the Damietta river.

Flora and fauna

 * Many dolphins visit Ras El Bar shores
 * Many kinds of wild birds actually live in the Manzala lake
 * In the fall season, many of the immigrating flocks of European birds pass by Ras El Bar in their course to South Africa

Houses
The land renting system started back since 1898, then started building houses and villas that were named "e'sha" (hut). In 1902, the first civic plan for the town was implemented. The plan established that the streets would be straight block style to maintain the town's beauty. At the very beginning those huts were built of wood and other simple materials, had only one floor and hosted only one family. These were temporary structures built at the start of the summer and removed at its end. Eventually, newer permanent villas replaced these using cement and bricks. Now, single blocks may have twelve units with most of them with garages. They are still named "e'sha" (hut) among locals.

Roads
The main road in Ras El Bar is called "Port Said road". Most of the streets are dirt roads and are numbered. The street numbers start from "El Moderiya Street". Streets north of it have even numbers while streets south of it have odd numbers.
 * Port Said Street: is the main access in Ras El-Bar and it connects its entrance to the beginning of "Lesan".
 * Nile Street: primary commercial street running parallel to the river.

External:
 * Older roads that link Ras El-Bar with other governorates are available all year long.

Sports

 * There are many kinds of sports like beach sports; swimming competitions which involve crossing the Nile river from Damietta to Ras El Bar.
 * Many clubs and gyms for sports like football, volleyball, handball, Kung Fu, karate, judo, etc.

Education
Ras El Bar as a summer resort has a small number of permanent residents, therefore there are few schools and universities.

Economy
Since early ages, Ras El Bar has been a main port for all kinds of goods that pass through the Nile and/or come from the sea.

Oil and gas exploration
There has been gas and oil exploration going on in Ras El Bar for a number of years.

Fishing
Ras El Bar is a huge centre for fishing boats that leave into the Mediterranean Sea and return loaded with different kinds of fish that helped in enriching this industry all over the country. It is also a spot for manufacturing ships of all kinds and sizes, especially fishing ones.