The white nile isnt really very white, and the blue nile isnt all that blue, either more of a murky brown. According to the author goro adachi, which many researchers have apparently discredited for his work, the big clue comes from sirius and orions alnitak, two of the prominent stars from the great pyramids staralignment scheme. The river nile is a major northflowing river in northeastern africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. The river nile provided water and fertile soil, turning the land around it from desert to farmland. The nile river s basin spans across the countries of egypt, sudan, south sudan, eritrea, ethiopia, kenya, the democratic republic of the congo, burundi, rwanda, uganda, and tanzania. A third river, the atbara, flows into the nile in the sudan but it contributes less than 1% of the total water flow.
The nile is usually considered the longest river in the world, but whether the nile is actually longer than south americas amazon still. The smaller rivers that come together to make the larger river are known as. Earth sciences earth sciences the origin of the nile. The nile is the worlds longest river and sustains the livelihoods of millions of people across ten countries in africa. Alli todaythereareshortagesofwaterinthe nile,duetotheunavoidableuseofthewaterbymanydifferent cultures. Informafrica the river nile, stretches across half of africa, flows northwards from the tropical mountains and forests of the equator to the temperate mediterranean sea. The nile has two major tributaries, the white nile and blue nile. Pixabay the nile river begins just south of the equator, flows northward through egypt, sudan, uganda, ethiopia, zaire, the sahara desert, kenya, tanzania, eritrea, burundi, and rwanda and ends at the mediterranean sea after flowing through the nile river delta. The river nile and its economic, political, social and cultural role. Environmental pollution grows, and african countries share one or more river valleys.
A river is a course of water that originates in the mountains and flows downwards until it reaches the sea. The blue nile meets up with the white nile near sudans capital city, khartoum. Nile river facts for kids geography national geographic kids. From there, the river flows north through the desert in egypt, and. The river nile is probably one of the most renowned rivers in the world and here are some interesting facts to reveal why. Inflows from the white nile and blue nile merge at khartoum. The blue nile flows west and then north to merge with the white nile at khartoum from where it. The nile is usually considered the longest river in the world, but whether the nile is actually longer than south americas amazon still remains the subject of much debate. How many countries does the nile river flow through. One of the most well known river nile facts might be the rivers ability to create extremely fertile soil, which caused it to be easy for cities and civilizations to grow alongside the banks of the nile river.
The old saying the nile is egypt and egypt is the nile is most assuredly true. This may sound obvious, but it is precisely this aspect that allows us to understand what a river is and how it functions. The nile river helped launch one of the largest ancient civilizations, spans almost 7,000 km, and crosses nine countries throughout africa. The nile river is not only the longest river in africa, but it is also the longest river in the whole world. For thousands of years, the river has provided a source of irrigation to transform the dry area around it into lush agricultural land. World facts how many countries does the nile river flow through. The nile river today curriculum unit boston university. Since completing university, paul has worked as a bookseller, librarian, and freelance writer.
It was the lifeblood of ancient egyptian transport, commerce and agriculture, and remains crucial for sustaining life in the barren deserts of egypt today. Most experts consider it as the longest river in the world. The white nile is considered to be the headwaters and. Nile river basin the international water management.
Water sharing in the nile river valley hcil umd university of. The nile river is present in nine different countries. Here are 10 things you didnt know about the nile river. Alli todaythereareshortagesofwaterinthenile,duetotheunavoidableuseofthewaterbymanydifferent cultures. The nile basin contains the longest river channel system. Of all the rivers known to the ancients, the nile was most puzzling with regard to its sources of water. The nile river is one of the oldest, longest, and most famous rivers in the world today. The nile is arguably the most famous name for the river. The river nile is about 6,670 km 4,160 miles in length and is the longest river in africa and in the world. Within the basin 14 sites have been nominated by the individual countries as ramsar wetland sites of international importance table 11. The nile river flows over 6,600 kilometers 4,100 miles until emptying into the mediterranean sea.
This chapter highlights the use of the nile river in the past and the present, and its future. The 10 best africans in the english premier league. Nile river map, valley, length, where does it start. The blue nile from ethiopia originating form lake tana and the white nile that originated form lake victoria merge into the great nile river at khartoum, the sudan capital to form the longest river of the world draining to the mediterranean sea. The nile river is regarded by many as the single most important factor in the history of egypt. Kenya, eritrea, congo, burundi, uganda, tanzania, rwanda, egypt, sudan, south sudan and ethiopia. Williams4 1school of environment and development, the university of manchester, manchester m 9pl, uk 2institute of geography and earth sciences, university of wales, aberystwyth, aberystwyth sy23 3db, uk 3school of earth sciences, university of. Africas longest river the river nile, stretching across half of africa, flows northwards from the tropical mountains and forests of the equator to the temperate mediterranean sea. This ancient egyptian artifact played a key role in modern understanding of egyptian hieroglyphics. After leaving lake albert, the river continues north through uganda and is known as the albert nile. The nile river is important because it provides egypt with irrigation, hydroelectric power, a steady water supply and rich soil. The nile cuts its coarse right through the center of egypt and. Countries in the nile river basin need to adapt to climate change in water management without.
The lake itself is on the border of dr congo, but the nile is not a border river at this point. Read amazing facts about the river nile if you want to know the notable river in the world. Water quality and potamoplankton evaluation of the nile river in upper egypt. The nile is used to irrigate cotton fields and horticultural farms. The nile river is the primary water resource in egypt, where it represents more than 95% of the total water resources in egypt and it is the lifeline for egypt and there are many reasons for its importance which are.
The nile river is filled with narrow cliffs, boulders, and wild rapids cataracts. What most do not know is that the nile originates from two separate locations, with two major tributaries. It joins the nile approximately 300 km 200 miles past khartoum. A case study in surface water conflict resolution m. The alghazal gazelle river flows in from western south sudan, joining the. Speculations on the strange behaviour of the nile were many, varied, and mostly. Use of nile river water is a cause for transboundary cooperation and conflict. General data on transboundary water sharing and on the nile river basin were also. It is africas longest river, reaching 4184 miles from the lakes that feed it and the streams that feed those lakes. Improve your knowledge ancient egypt and learn more with dk find out.
It is over 4,000 miles long, which is even longer than the entire distance across the united states. All things considered, it is the longest stream in the. Dec 22, 2014 the black lands of the nile river was the place to be if you are an egyptian back in the day, and thats still a bit true today. Blue nile makes about 80% by volume of the great nile river. This river has been important to africa for thousands of years and continues to be so today. The length of the nile river is approximately 6,850 kilometers 4,256 miles. It is also a spot for fishing as well as a transportation route. The nile river is a land mark to egyptians past and present, mainly because of its features and variety of uses. The nile river flows north from the heart of africa to the mediterranean sea.
Today, the river continues to serve as a source of irrigation, as well as an important transportation and trade route. Nile river 10 interesting facts by cathrina koay on prezi. The nile rivers average discharge is about 300 million cubic metres per day. The nile river basin the 6850km long nile is the worlds longest river, and flows from south to north with a catchment basin covering ap. Nile river basin the international water management institute. Although it is generally associated with egypt, only 22% of the niles course runs through egypt. Although a very important river, the nile s is small compared to most of the other great rivers, only 2% volume of the amazon, 15% of the mississippi and 20% of the mekong rivers. Many of these interesting facts were borrowed from the brita water filter site.
Not only does this river maintain its course up the length of egypt through a virtually rainless desert, but it rises regularly in flood once each year. The blue nile, the largest tributary, joins the white nile near khartoum, sudan. Nile river, the worlds longest river, which flows northward through northeastern. The white nile and the blue nile meet up in sudan, to form the river nile. The nile river has played a remarkably important role in the egyptian civilization, life and history of this nation. Nile river basin region based on actual and projected estimates of population growth and.
The nile delta in northern egypt is where the nile river drains in to the mediterranean sea. Water security and population dynamics in the nile river basin bakenaz a. Over time, weve collected numerous facts on rivers, which were willing to share. Atbara is the first town on the nile, when no more smaller rivers join the nile futher down it. Nile river 10 interesting facts rosetta stone facts aswan high dam in 1787, the famous rosetta stone was found in the nile delta in the city of rosetta.
It provides fresh water not only for domestic and industrial use,but also for irrigated agriculture,hydropower dams and the vast fisheries resource of the lakes of central. The reeds which grew along the sides of the nile river were used to make boats for the egyptians. The only other river to flow north is the genessee river in the united states. Food grown along the banks of the nile provided wealth and strength to the whole of. The white nile, which is the longer of the two, begins at lake victoria in tanzania. At over 4,000 miles long, it is the longest river in the world. The facts about the nile river the facts about the nile river visiting the blue nile river blue nile river guide the blue nile.
It begins as 2 separate rivers, the blue nile and the white nile. Other sources believe that amazon river located in south america is the longest river in the world according to a. It is the africas longest river, reaching 4150 miles from the lakes that feed it and the streams that feed those lakes. To get a more accurate idea about how much water actually flows in the nile look at this image. Since the ancient period, the civilization in sudanese kingdoms and egyptians kingdom flourished because of the river.
Williams4 1school of environment and development, the university of manchester, manchester m 9pl, uk 2institute of geography and earth sciences, university of wales, aberystwyth, aberystwyth sy23 3db, uk. The name comes from colouring due to clay carried in the water. And while it may be the most wellknown river in africa, or even the world, the winding waters still hold many interesting facts. The tributary in the east, the blue nile, begins from lake tana in ethiopia and the tributary in the west, the white nile, begins in uganda. The nile river s average discharge is about 300 million cubic metres per day. Water quality and potamoplankton evaluation of the nile river in. The nile river flows into south sudan just south of nimule, where it is known as the bahr al jabal mountain river. Most people actually associate the nile river with egypt, but only one fifth of the actual course of the river runs. The nile has a length of about 6,695 kilometers 4,160 miles.
Atbara is the first town on the nile, when no more. The source of the nile is sometimes considered to be lake victoria, but the lake itself has feeder rivers of considerable size like the kagera river. The river nile is considered the longest river in the world and it is the main source of life. The nile river runs for approximately 6650 kilometres 42 miles and is located in africa but also flows through parts of tanzania, burundi, rwanda, congo kinshasa and kenya.
Facts about the nile river nile river the nile, ancient egyptian iteru or. Get facts about ancient egyptian life on the nile from the dk find out website for kids. The nile rivers average discharge is about 300 million cubic meters 10. Good agricultural practices to control erosion, pollution and land. From khartoum to aswan, egypt, the combined white and blue nile are known as the united nile or simply as the nile river. The blue nile and white nile merge in sudan before flowing into egypt and towards the mediterranean.
After the blue and white niles merge, the only remaining major tributary is the atbara river, which originates in ethiopia north of lake tana, and is approximately 800 km 500 miles long. Evolution, quaternary river environments and material fluxes jamie c. The name nile comes from the name neilos, a greek word for river. The major dams on the nile are roseires dam, sennar dam, aswan high dam, and owen falls dam. Its last major tributary, the atbara river, joins it about 200 miles 320 kilometers north of khartoum. Since we havent always kept track of the source, be sure to cross check the fact if you use it. Facts about the river nile for kids primary homework help. It adopts the blue part of its name from the large amount of fertile soil it erodes from the highlands of ethiopia, giving the water a greybluish colour. The nile is one of the worlds few large rivers that flow from south to north. The blue nile river, like the white nile, is a tributary of the worlds longest river, the nile. Khorbotly department of civil and environmental engineering, american university. Without the nile river, humanity may not have developed in the way that it did in this region. Without the river, egypt would not be able to provide human habitation. Egypt depends on the nile river for 95% of its water needs for drinking, agriculture and.
The nile river is regularly referenced as the longest river on the planet, however a few people think that the amazon river deserves this title. Egypt and the nile river 1 the nile river flows through how many different countries in africa. From there, the river continues to flow north through egypt and, finally, into the. A possible increase of weeds and pests could heighten insecticide use, thus magnifying the pollution problems of. The nile since 5000 bc has provided egypt and its people with fish, seafood and fresh water. It is considered an oasis providing relief in a vast desert. Zeydan head of water engineering department, faculty of engineering, tanta university, tanta, egypt abstract in the 21 st century, the potential for conflict over water is unacceptably high. This river has many cataracts, six to be exact which makes the river flow very quickly making it great for boats traveling north. The nile is a great river and flows over four thousand miles before dumping into the mediterranean sea.
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