Corniche

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The word corniche typically refers to a road on the side of a cliff or mountain, with the ground rising on one side of the road and falling away on the other.

The word also refers in the Arabic language, in general, to a headland formed at a land's end. Which describes a most remote geographical border of a mainland by a water line, with a natural corner, usually, or a cliff.

In Egypt, the word typically describes a waterfront promenade, usually paralleled by a main road. In most places, the Corniche ("كورنيش" (kornish) — the French word borrowed into Arabic) runs alongside the River Nile. Luxor, Aswan, Maadi, and Cairo all have such corniches. However, Alexandria's Corniche forms a notable exception: it runs along the harbour. In the Gulf States, the Corniche runs along the coast.

The word itself comes from the French route à corniche or road on a ledge — do not confuse with cornice, which comes from Italian.

[edit] See Also

Jeddah Corniche