There is no better way to trace the course of Egyptian history than to follow the course of the Nile. The river has been Egypt's lifeline for millenniums, fertilizing the narrow strip of land along its bank with a deposit of silt after each annual inundation - now controlled by the High Dam at Aswan. Along its length Pharaohs, nobles and lesser mortals have all built monuments and tombs to immortalize themselves.

The Nile is Associated with Life

"Egypt is the gift of the River Nile", said Herodotus, the great Greek historian, on his only visit to Egypt. Egyptians would still agree wholeheartedly with his words today. At the end of every year, they are eager to hear good news about the water level in the River Nile. In 1994 the volume of inlet water was considered high. In the High Dam Lake, water reached its highest ever level.

Since time immemorial, Egyptians have associated the River Nile with life, fertility and development. They care about it, and it, in turn, runs in their blood. It has always been their source of prosperity, and was the main factor in building their great civilization. It is from the River Nile that Egyptians draw their friendly character. They have gained generosity, sincerity and fidelity from its flow, flood and purity. Every day, its banks witness thousands of true love stories, as lovers meet on its banks. It provides them with hope and promises them happiness. It had always been a source of inspiration and creativity for all kinds of arts. Many songs are dedicated to the River Nile. And in ancient times, Egyptians made sacrifices for its sake and transmitted its legends through successive generations.

Egyptians are blessed with the River Nile, and they appreciate that. They have always built dams, barrages and gauges to maintain it. Akhenaton thanked his god for it in lengthy prayers. Amenamhat III built EI-Lahoon dam in Fayoum city to manage the irrigation system. Another dam was then constructed at Madris Lake, topped by a 100km bridge.

Alexander the Great then extended both Alexandria and Cisostris canals. The latter joins the River Nile and the Red Sea, and was later rebuilt by Amr Ibn El-As. In 1861, Mohammed Ali constructed barrages to substitute the basin irrigation system with a year-round system. Several waterways, such as El-Mahmoudia, El-Ibrahimia and El-Ismailia, were then dug.

In 1901 a new dam was built in Aswan, which was then elevated many times later until finally, Egyptians built the High Dam in Aswan.

The High Dam

The High Dam was seen to symbolize the iron will and great steadfastness of the Egyptian people.

It protected them against the annual River Nile inundation, saved the excess water to be used later at different times, and thereby spared them the sufferings of drought. The High Dam is the most important project that Egyptians have implemented for Nile water management. In fact, it is a landmark in their history. This eminent dam reflects positively on various areas such as irrigation, agriculture and power generation. Hundreds of feddans are now continuously irrigated instead of using the basin system, and more than a million feddans are now reclaimed. Moreover, electrical power is generated on daily basis.

Long and Wide

The River Nile's downstream surface is 2.9km2. It is considered the longest river in the world, as it flows for 6690km, starting from Tanganicka Lake to the Mediterranean Sea. On its journey it passes through nine different countries; namely Tanzania, Kenya, Zaire, Burundi, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Uganda, the Sudan and Egypt. Along its way it encounters many rocky waterfalls, makes sudden deep drops, then flows along rapidly up and down to reach Egypt's land quietly and safely.

If you ever visit Egypt and drink water from the Nile even once, you will be sure to come back. Indeed Egyptians, as well as all their guests, believe in that.

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