The Nile River is the longest river in Africa and the longest river in the world and runs approximately 6,853 kilometers from its sources (which are the Blue Nile and the White Nile) to its mouth at the Mediterranean Sea. However, some researchers have questioned its status as the world’s longest river in favor of another colossus: the Amazon River.
The Nile basin is approximately 3,250,000 km², making it the third largest in the world in area. For its entire length, it covers 11 countries: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Eritrea.
The river has a maximum width of 2.8 kilometers and a depth of between 8 and 11 meters. Its flow is impressive: it discharges an average of 2,830 cubic meters of water per second.
Countries crossed by the Nile River
The Nile River flows through 11 countries, from its source to its delta:
1. Burundi
2. Congo-Kinshasa
3. Egypt
4. Eritrea
5. Ethiopia
6. Kenya
7. Rwanda
8. South Sudan
9. Sudan
10. Tanzania
11. Uganda
The Nile Falls.
The Nile River overflowed every summer during July, August, and September, flooding the valley. This flood was very beneficial for the riparian vegetation, as it covered the banks with silt that fertilized them. The construction of the dam made it possible to produce a large part of Egypt’s electricity and to stabilize the banks. However, agricultural fertilization now depends on chemical fertilizers.
Nile River Map Africa
Along its course, the Nile River has several waterfalls in the form of waterfalls. Along its course there are three large dams: Aswan, Gebel Aulia and Makwar. The Nile River is navigable from Aswan to its mouth. In 1970, the construction of the great Aswan Dam, begun in 1959, was completed to control the tremendous flooding of the water level. In this way, Egypt has managed to advance and prosper in the modern world. The Aswan Dam provides water for crops and electricity. It is a huge hydroelectric power generator, supplying electricity to half of Egypt.
From the time of the ancient pharaohs, populations were concentrated on the banks of the Nile. The water of the Nile provided the adjoining plots of land, which took advantage of all that it brought to this arid land. The extreme fertility of this land came from the thousands of tons of nutrient-rich silt deposited by the Nile each year. The continuous floods, for millennia, were the basis of agriculture but also posed a mortal threat to the inhabitants, the cities, and the temples themselves.
With agriculture came culture, power, and the Pharaonic Empire. That is why the vast majority of monuments and temples are located along the Nile River. This linear arrangement goes from the Mediterranean to the border with Sudan. From Alexandria, through Cairo, Memphis, Gizah, Saqqara, Luxor, Thebes, Karnak to Aswan.
Nile Festivals and Traditions
Numerous festivals and traditions take place on the Nile River, also in the villages on its banks. Most of these Egyptian festivals and traditions have their origin in the worship of the gods of Ancient Egypt and Islam.
The festival of Wafaa Al Nil is celebrated in September. It is a festival that is dedicated to the Nile River and has been held since ancient times. The main highlights of this festival focus on activities for children, who can participate in painting courses and poetry sessions in addition to seminars and music concerts.
In Egypt, we find other festivals and traditions that take place throughout the year as is the case of the Pharaonic Wedding which is celebrated in the month of November. It is a festival that comes from the Pharaonic era and its purpose is to commemorate the civilization of ancient Egypt. Weddings are held during this period of time in the Temple of Karnak in the Pharaonic style, with ancient rituals and dresses.
It is interesting to attend and see live some of the most important traditions of the country to discover aspects of Egyptian culture. Millenary traditions that a short trip may not allow you to appreciate. But they say that those who visit Egypt always come back
Memphis Nile River Map
Memphis and its necropolis. Around the capital of the Ancient Egyptian Empire, we find magnificent funerary monuments: cave tombs, delicately ornamented mastabas, temples, and pyramids.
Ancient Thebes and its necropolis. Ancient Thebes, the city of the god Amun, was the capital of Egypt during the Middle and New Empires. The site consists of the palaces and temples of Karnak and Luxor, as well as the necropolis of the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens.
Blue And White Nile River Map
The White Nile emerges from Lake Victoria at Jinja, Uganda, as the Victoria Nile and flows through Lake Kyoga and Lake Albert. The river emerges from Lake Albert and enters South Sudan at Nimule. The river joins Bahr el Ghazal at Lake One to form the “White Nile”, then continues north into neighboring Sudan, where it merges with the Blue Nile to eventually form the Nile River as seen on the map.
The Blue Nile originates at Lake Tana, Ethiopia, and travels between 1,460 and 1,600 kilometers through Ethiopia and Sudan before joining the White Nile.
The main source of Lake Tana is Gilgel Abay. From Lake Tana, the Blue Nile flows about 30 kilometers southward and enters the 400-kilometer-long Grand Canyon of the Nile.
Between Lake Tana and the canyon, the river receives inflow from several rivers, including the Walaqa, Bashilo and Wanqa rivers on the left bank and the Tul, Handassa, Abbaya, and Tammi rivers, among others, on the right bank.
The source of the Nile River
Two main tributaries combine to form the Nile River: the White Nile and the Blue Nile.
However, the Kagera River is considered the most distant source of the Nile. The Kagera River is the main source of Lake Victoria, which is located in East Africa.
The Nyabarongo River and Ruvyironza (Rwanda) are considered the source of the Nile River because they both flow into the Kagera River, which eventually flows into Lake Victoria.
Nile River Map Ancient Egypt
From the time of the ancient pharaohs, populations were concentrated on the banks of the Nile. The water of the Nile provided the adjoining plots of land, which took advantage of all that it brought to this arid land. The extreme fertility of this land came from the thousands of tons of nutrient-rich silt deposited by the Nile each year. The continuous floods, for millennia, were the basis of agriculture.
Conclusion
