Hi Tourists watch solar alignment in Egypt temple.
People visit the Great Temple of Ramses II, to observe the sun to send a beam of light into the ancient temple's dark inner chamber for over ten minutes in Abu Simbel, 870 kilometers (540 miles) south of Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. Hundreds of people visited the temple to watch the sun illuminate colossal statues, a rare 3,200-year-old astronomical ceremony that happens twice a year. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Zayed).
ABU SIMBEL, Egypt (AP) — Hundreds of visitors have gathered at the Great Temple of Ramses II in Egypt to watch the sun illuminate colossal statues, a rare 3,200-year-old astronomical ceremony that happens twice a year.
At dawn at Abu Simbel, local dignitaries and tourists on Wednesday waited for the sun to send a beam of light into the ancient temple's dark inner chamber for over 10 minutes, lighting three of four enormous, 22-meter (72-feet) -high statues.
Thirty-two centuries ago, the temple was precisely built to align with the sun twice a year, celebrating the pharaoh's birthday and coronation. It is considered one of the most beautiful of Egypt's ancient monuments, well-known for its four colossal statues.
Egyptian authorities are working hard to revive the tourism industry, collapsed in the wake of the 2011 uprising.
People visit the Great Temple of Ramses II to observe the sun to send a beam of light into the ancient temple's dark inner chamber for over ten minutes in Abu Simbel, 870 kilometers (540 miles) south of Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. Hundreds of people visited the temple to watch the sun illuminate colossal statues, a rare 3,200-year-old astronomical ceremony that happens twice a year. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Zayed).