Which river flows through Egypt?
The Nile River flows through Egypt from south to north and empties into the Mediterranean Sea. About 95 percent of Egyptians live within a few kilometers of its banks.
The Nile is often said to be the longest river in the world, at about 6,650 kilometers, though some measurements suggest the Amazon may be longer. It has two main branches: the White Nile, which begins in the Great Lakes region of central Africa, and the Blue Nile, which starts at Lake Tana in Ethiopia. They meet at Khartoum in Sudan.
In Egypt, the Nile creates a narrow green valley through the Sahara Desert and a large, fertile delta near the coast. Ancient Egyptian civilization depended on its yearly floods, which left rich black soil for farming. Egyptians called their land Kemet, meaning black land.
The Aswan High Dam
The Aswan High Dam, completed in 1970, controls the river's floods and generates electricity. It created Lake Nasser, one of the world's largest artificial lakes. The dam ended the yearly floods, which helped farming year-round but also reduced the fertile silt reaching the fields.
Did You Know?
Major Egyptian cities, including Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, lie along the Nile, and river cruises between Luxor and Aswan are a popular way to see ancient temples.