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Aswan or Aswanl (Assuan) is one of the sunniest cities in
Egypt, offering a delightful beauty and a relaxed atmosphere, with a
warm and dry climate. Located about 890 km south of Cairo, and 80 km
south of Luxor, it has a more African ambience than any other city in
Egypt. It has long been known as the “Gate of Africa”, and much of its
charms come from the River Nile. Life here is slow-paced and relaxed,
and its setting on the Nile is gorgeous. Boats sail by gracefully, and
floating restaurants offer rhythmic Nubian music and delicious fresh
fish.
The Nile in Aswan is at its best, flowing
gently around bright green islands adorned with tropical foliage. The
local souk (market) is filled with the exotic scents of spices and
perfumes. Handmade baskets are piled high in the market, alongside
handmade scarves. The bazaar in Aswan is especially large, and continues
past the Fair Gardens, the Nubian Museum and down to the cemetery.
Philae (Philai), (Anas el Wagud)
Philae is an island in the Nile River and the previous site of an
Egyptian temple complex in southern Egypt. The complex was dismantled
and relocated to a nearby island in connection to the UNESCO project
started because of the construction of the High Dam, after being partly
flooded by the first Aswan Dam for half a century
The High Dam
Today visitors enjoy visiting the Aswan Dam and the Aswan High Dam.
The latter was completed in 1968, resulting in an artificial lake called
Lake Nasser. It is a massive structure of stones, 3600 meters long, with
a width of 980 meters at the base and 40 meters at the top. In all, the
High Dam equals 17 times the volume of the Great Pyramid. The High Dam
has changed the course of the Nile and the course of Egypt’s history as
well.
Lake Nasser
The largest artificial lake in the world, named after President
Nasser, the leader of the Egyptian Revolution. The lake is 300 miles
long, holding 157000 million cubic meters of water. Realizing the
historical value of the monuments located there, worldwide rescue
efforts were undertaken to save some of the most important temples and
artifacts from the flooding resulting from damming the water.
Isis Temple
One of the temples saved from submersion in Lake Nasser was the
beautiful Temple of Isis. Ancient Egyptians believed Isis to be the
goddess of fertility and motherhood, having great magical skills. She
was represented as having a human form, though with the horns of a cow
in place of ears. It was believed that the temple sanctuary, the Holy of
Holies, was the source from where the waters of life originated.
Unfinished Obelisk
Just to the south of Aswan, along the way to Philae, lies the famous
gigantic Unfinished Obelisk, that was built from red granite, but was
left unfinished because a deep crack developed in its center. Had the
work been finished, it would have been the largest Obelisk ever made,
measuring 41.75 meters and weighing about 1200 tons. The tools found
there, left by the discouraged masons, have given modern archaeologists
an invaluable source of information on ancient quarrying techniques.
Agha Khan Mausoleum
The Mausoleum of Aga Khan is situated on top of a hill that commands
a magnificent view of Aswan. Built in the 1950's, this elegant structure
of pink granite honors Mohammad Shah Agha Khan, the Pakistani spiritual
leader of the Ismailis, a Shi’ite sect coming from India, who fell in
love with Aswan, because of its beauty and perfect winter climate. He
maintained a white villa on the west bank, and chose to be buried at a
site overlooking it. He died in 1959, and his wish was carried out. The
elegant structure houses his white marble tomb, with its ornate décor,
and is now closed to the public.
The Cultural Center
For those interested in experiencing local culture, the Cultural
Center, just off the main thoroughfare in Aswan, houses colorful Nubian
shows. Every night, Nubian dancers and musicians in their native
costumes recreate scenes from village life and perform the famous Nubian
mock stick-fight dances.
Islands of the Nile
For a delightful excursion, visitors go by sailboat to small granite
islands of the Nile, including the Elephantine and Kitchener (or
Botanic) islands.
Climate data for Aswan
| Month |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Year |
Average high |
°C
°F |
23
73 |
26
79 |
31
88 |
36
97 |
39
102 |
42
108 |
41
106 |
41
106 |
39
102 |
37
99 |
31
88 |
25
77 |
34
93 |
Average low |
°C
°F |
10
50 |
11
52 |
14
57 |
19
66 |
23
73 |
26
79 |
26
79 |
26
79 |
24
75 |
22
72 |
17
63 |
12
54 |
19
66 |
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