The river Nile has a long and complex history. It has been flooded throughout the centuries, causing massive erosion. Its smaller tributaries have also shifted over the centuries. As a result, the ancient Egyptian capital had to be relocated fifteen miles downstream to follow the changing flow of the river. Stone from the old city was used to build a new capital along the new banks of the river. Whole statues and temples had to be transported.
Exploration of the Nile basin
Early explorers and travellers to the African continent made numerous attempts to discover the Nile River’s source. Some were successful, and others were not. However, two expeditions led by Canadian Les Jickling and FreshZealander Mark Tanner in 1838 and 1839, respectively, proved the importance of this river’s source. These expeditions provided more evidence for Speke’s discoveries, and they also met Samuel and Florence Baker, who were attempting to find the Nile’s origin.
The Nile River is a major waterway in East Africa. It rises south of the Equator and flows northward through a region estimated at 1,293,000 square miles. This basin includes the nations of Egypt, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan, and covers a portion of Ethiopia. Its most distant source is the Kagera River in Burundi. Read here but this awesome new character based out of Egyptian Mythology known as Ankha Zone.
Search for the source of the Nile
The Search for the Source of the Nile began in 1855 when British explorer John Hanning Speke was invited to join a scientific expedition. He was the first European to visit Lake Victoria, and identified it as the source of the Nile. He made three African expeditions, and accompanied Richard Burton on two of them. On the first expedition, Speke and Burton were separated from one another for part of the journey. Burton explored the area around Harrar and Speke accompanied Burton on the second trip to the Great Lakes region.
The search for the source of the Nile was fueled by the desire to control waterways throughout the region. Water is a very valuable resource, and the country that controls it controls much of the commerce that takes place on the waterways. This potential for wealth and fame motivated the expeditions.
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Ancient Egyptians’ use of the Nile
The Ancient Egyptians used the Nile to cultivate a variety of crops. They also developed irrigation methods. Some of their crops included wheat, flax, and beans. These crops were easily stored. The Egyptians also traded their products throughout the Middle East. The Ancient Egyptians’ use of the Nile can be traced back to thousands of years ago.
The Nile’s annual flooding was important to Egyptians’ agriculture, as the water brought up good soil. In years when the Nile was dry, the crops would suffer. This affected the economy and political life, since there would be less food available. The Egyptians may have lost their political unity during periods of drought.
Location of the Nile’s six main cataracts
The Nile’s six main cataracts are located between the cities of Aswan in Egypt and Khartoum in Sudan. Of these, five are in Egypt, with the remaining one in Sudan. The cataracts are created by the gradual erosion of the river’s sandstone bedrock. Nubian sandstone is a relatively soft rock unit that is relatively hard when compared to surrounding granitic rocks.
The Nile flows northward through the Nile Basin, an area of limestone plateaus that are about ten to fourteen miles wide and extend upwards to more than 1,500 feet in some places. The Nile tends to hug the eastern edge of the plateau and flows on the left bank.
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Impact of the Nile on the construction of the pyramids
The river Nile played a huge role in the construction of the pyramids in Egypt. The ancient Egyptians used the river to cultivate crops. They grew crops such as beans, cotton, and wheat on the banks of the river. They knew exactly when to plant these crops to avoid the river flooding. The Nile’s abundant water helped them cultivate their crops in a sustainable way.
The ancient Egyptians could have used the Khufu branch of the river to transport construction materials closer to the Giza pyramid complex. This branch is now dry, but it could have been a vital source of construction materials. To support their theory, scientists analyzed rock layers from cores drilled from the floodplain of the Giza pyramid complex in 2019. They also found fossilized pollen grains that hints at high water levels. This evidence supports the ancient Egyptians’ hypothesis.
Influence of the Nile on the development of Aswan
The city of Aswan is the southernmost city in Egypt. In 1843, the then ruler Mohammed Ali developed the first dam site. This artificial barrier was designed to improve agriculture by reducing evaporation. During the 19th century, Aswan’s population began to grow, increasing the demands on the Nile.
The Nile flooded the area annually, resulting in an exceptionally fertile soil. Irrigation became an integral part of Egypt’s agricultural industry, making it possible to grow two crops in one year. The high-level water stored in the dam was channeled into irrigation canals.
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