The
river Nile is one of the longest rivers in the world; second only
to the Amazon in South America. The river is seen as the key to
the rise of the ancient Egyptian empire and its banks were some
of the first places to be settled then. The annual flooding of
its banks provides nearby areas with fertile, mineral rich soils
and for centuries, these areas have been used for cultivating a
variety of crops.
The river has two main tributaries;
The White Nile, which rises mainly from Lake Victoria in Eastern
Africa. This is the largest freshwater lake in Africa.
The Blue Nile; which rises from Lake Tana in the Ethiopian highlands;
This is the main tributary of the Nile.
The river empties into the Mediterranean Sea near the city of
Alexandria.
The Aswan Dam which is Egypt’s main source for hydro-electricity
is built on the Nile and is situated near the city of Aswan.
