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Nile
River
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The River Nile is the longest river in the
world, stretching for 4,187 miles. It flows from south to north and is
formed by three major tributaries: the White Nile, the Blue Nile and
Atbara. The Blue Nile has its source in the highlands of the African
country of Ethiopia, by Lake Tana. The runoff from spring rain and
melting snow caused the annual summer flood of the Nile that the
Egyptians depended on for water to irrigate their crops, and deposit
fertile top soil. Just north of Khartoum the combined White and Blue Niles meet their final major tributary, namely Atbara which also has its source in the Ethiopian highlands. The Nile then plunges into a canyon. Before the construction of the Aswan High Dam, the Nile rolled through a series of six cataracts, between northern Sudan and southern Egypt. The High Dam was built to regulate the flow of the River Nile, and thus benefit the region's inhabitants. Gone are the days when Egyptians had to worry that the Nile will flood too high, destroying their crops; or fall too low, not providing proper irrigation. Since the construction of the Dam, the river has gradually changed its course. Some Ancient sites, including Abu Simbel Temple, were carefully moved to safe sites, while others were permanently covered and destroyed by the water. Lake Nasser was created by the construction of the High Dam and stretches over a distance of 312 miles. It opened in 1971, and is considered as the largest man-made lake. Tourism in Lake Nasser is getting a boost. In addition to specialist holidays offering fishing tours, several luxury cruise boats now operate between Aswan and Abu Simbel, day and night. Huge Nile crocodiles are also found in numbers. North of Cairo, the Nile splits into two branches, the Rosetta Branch to the west and the Damietta branch to the east. The Aswan High Dam has caused other changes. The water surface of the lake has reduced the average temperature in the region. The dam has also harnessed the water for the production of electricity and navigation has been improved. In one generation, thousands of years of life along the banks of the River Nile have been permanently altered. Boats of the River Nile Feluccas The felucca rarely has any form of engine and relies entirely on the breeze which builds during the day and usually subsides at night. Some of the craft today are used to carry tourists who wish to enjoy an eternally peaceful journey carried along by the gentle breeze and the currents of the river. Few are now made entirely of wood, but the basic layout has barely changed. They don't have a keel as such, but a heavy centre plate which can be raised in the shallows. The sails are seriously low tech affairs made of native cotton and other natural fibers. |
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Packages
include sailing in Nile River
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Copyright ® 2009 Egypt Travel (S.A.E.) |
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