Asyut is sandwiched between two mountain ranges of about 600m height. There is also a lowering in elevation in mid Egypt, from the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. This gives the city and nearby towns and villages the similar properties of a continental climate, meaning that the city has harsh and chilly cold winter weather, and very hot but non-humid summers. During summer the temperature can exceed . Yet, in winter Asyut gets below temperatures during the night and frost can easily form, while hail or snow are rare because of the low average of the city's precipitation and general low humidity. The highest record temperature was , recorded on July 23, 1994, while the lowest record temperature was , recorded on January 16, 2008. Culture The Alexan Pasha Palace was constructed in 1910 as a riverside residence of a local aristocratic family. It remained in possession of the family until 1995 when it was sold to the state. There are plans to restore the mansion and turn it into a museum. Notable people Plotinus, Neoplatonic philosopher 204 or 205 – 270 CE. Coluthus, 5th century Greek poet. Pope Shenouda III, Pope and Patriarch of the Egyptian Orthodox Church in Egypt and All Middle East. Gamal Abdel Nasser, the second Egyptian president. Samir Ghanem, a comedian, singer, and entertainer. Ahmed Lutfi el-Sayed, Egyptian nationalist. Melitius of Lycopolis, founder of the Melitians. al-Suyuti, a Sunni Muslim theologian who died in 1505. Ali El-Araby, footballer. Umar Makram, a revolutionary & noble. Twinnings Iaşi, Romania See also List of ancient Egyptian towns and cities Tulle bi telli Notes References Bibliography Loprieno, Antonio: Ancient Egyptian A Linguistic Introduction, Oxford University Press 1996. Baines & Malek Cultural Atlas of Ancient Egypt, 2000. Kahl, Jochem: "Ancient Asyut: The first Synthesis after Three Hundred Years of Research", The Asyut Project vol. I''. Wiesbaden 2008. External links Cities in Egypt Governorate capitals in Egypt Populated places in Asyut Governorate Cities in ancient Egypt Coptic Catholic Church Titular sees of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria Populated places established in the 4th millennium BC 4th-millennium BC establishments Former populated places in Egypt Tourist attractions in Egypt