Gezira Island is located in the Nile River, in central Cairo

Cairo

Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...

, Egypt

Egypt

Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...

. The southern portion of the island contains the Gezira District, and the northern third contains the affluent Zamalek

Zamalek

Zamalek Sporting Club , is an Egyptian sporting club based in Meet Okba, Giza, Egypt that plays in the Egyptian Premier League....

 District.

Gezira Island is west of downtown Cairo

Downtown Cairo

Downtown Cairo, , has been the urban center of Cairo, Egypt since the late 19th century, when the district was designed and built.-History:The area, designed by prestigious French architects was commissioned by Khedive Ismail...

 and Tahrir Square, connected across the Nile by three bridges each on the east and west sides, including the Qasr al-Nil Bridge

Qasr al-Nil Bridge

The Qasr al-Nil Bridge spans the Nile River in central Cairo, Egypt. It connects downtown Cairo to Gezira Island and the Zamalek district. At the bridge's east and west approaches there are two large stone lion statues flanking each entrance, they are late 19th century works by French sculptor and...

 and 6th October Bridge

6th October Bridge

The 6th October Bridge is an elevated highway in central Cairo, Egypt. The bridge and causeway crosses the Nile River twice from the west bank suburbs, east through Gezira Island to Downtown Cairo, and on to connect the city to the Cairo International Airport to the east.Its name commemorates...

. Under 19th century ruler Khedive Ismail the island was first called "Jardin des Plantes" (Garden of Plants), because of its great collection of exotic plants shipped from all over the world.

Island landmarks

• Cairo Tower
  Cairo Tower
  The Cairo Tower is a free-standing concrete tower located in Cairo, Egypt. At , it has been the tallest structure in Egypt and North Africa for 50 years...
  
   (1960), the tallest concrete
  Concrete
  Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
  
   construction in Egypt
  Egypt
  Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
  
  , built near the Gezira Sporting Club.
• Egyptian Opera House
  Cairo Opera House
  The Cairo Opera House , part of Cairo's National Cultural Center, is the main performing arts venue in the Egyptian capital. Home to most of Egypt's finest musical groups, it is located on the southern portion of Gezira Island in the Nile River, in the Zamalek district west of and near downtown...
  
   (1988), , built near the Cairo Tower, and one of the better performing arts venues in the Middle East
  Middle East
  The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
  
  .
• El Sawy culturewheel
  El Sawy culturewheel
  El Sawy culturewheel is an all-purpose, private cultural center, located on Gezira Island in the Zamalek district, central Cairo, Egypt. It is considered one of the most important cultural venues in Egypt...
  
   Centre (2003), (transliterated: Sakkiat Al-Sawy), located beneath the 15th May Bridge in Zamalek, one of the most important cultural venues in Egypt.
• Gezira Sporting Club
  Gezira Sporting Club
  The Gezira Sporting Club is the largest multi-sport facility in Egypt. It was founded in 1882 and was originally called Khedivial Sporting Club. It is located on the island of Zamalek in Cairo.-History:...
  
  (1882), the oldest club in Egypt.