The Nile River

The Nile River is considered the longest river in Egypt and Africa, where the ancient Egyptian Civilization started on its banks, it was also considered the source of life by the ancient Egyptians as it has played a vital role in the country's history. 


The Nile River gets its name from the Greek word “Neilos” which means the River Valley.


The River penetrates Egypt from south to north and it is divided into two branches that pour in the Mediterranean Sea, which are the Rosetta and Damietta branches.


The Nile and its tributaries, the White Nile, and the Blue Nile run through ten countries, which are Tanzania ,Kenya, Zaire, Burundi, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Uganda, Sudan and finally Egypt and the length of the River from its sources up to its estuary in the Mediterranean Sea is 6690 kilometers.

 

The source of the Nile River is Lake Victoria, and at the north of this lake there is a small waterfalls called Rippon Falls, the Nile River is the first source of irrigation water in Egypt, and because of its annual flooding, the Nile also enriched the surrounding soil with rich nutrients, making the soil very fertile, Therefore Herodotus said that “Egypt is the gift of the Nile”.


The Nile River flooded every year between June and September, and that is the reason why the Ancient Egyptians called the river Ar or Aur, which means black, because of the color of the sediment left after the river’s annual flood. 


The Ancient Egyptians honored the Nile and considered it a God called Hapi, the god of the Inundation.


Most of the magnificent sightseeings exist on the Banks of the great Nile such as Karnak Temple, Abu Simple Temple, and Kalabsha Temple and you can enjoy visiting them on board Nile Cruises.