Visitors watch sun align with ancient Luxor temple

A special sunrise illuminated the Egyptian city of Luxor on Wednesday as hundreds of tourists witnessed an annual phenomenon.  Many tourists were overwhelmed by the experience as the first rays of golden sunlight pierced through the Temple of Amun-Re at Karnak.

The aligned sunrise takes place on each winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, which marks the beginning of astronomical winter. Luxor sits on the banks of the Nile River and is located about 650 kilometers south of Cairo. It is home to some of Egypt's most dramatic ancient temples and pharaonic tombs.