The Nile River
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The Nile River
The Nile is the world's longest river at 4,135 miles. It has two sources, one at Lake
Victoria, in Uganda (the White Nile) and one at Lake Tana, in Ethiopia (the Blue
Nile).
The entire Nile River Delta is estimated to drain an area of 1,293,000 square miles.
This area is so vast that is has a number of different climate areas. North, in Egypt and
Sudan, rainfall is sparse. More to the south, in and around Ethiopia, rainfall is heavy,
contributing to the floodwaters that rush downstream and eventually create the
wonderfully fertile soil that supports so much of life in Egypt and Sudan. Dams, the
most notable being the Aswan High Dam, have been built along the route to prevent
massive flooding of populated areas.
The Nile River Delta is home to many species of animals, including crocodiles, turtles,
baboons, wildebeest, and more than 300 species of birds, including fishing eagles, ibis,
and the Nile Valley Sunbird.
The ancient Egyptians called the river Ar or Aur, meaning "black," because of the
black sediment left behind after the frequent river floods. The ancient Greeks called
the river Kem, which translates into "black" as well. But it is as Nile that we know this
river today. Nile comes from the Greek Neilos, which means "river valley."
The people who lived along the Nile in ancient times used the river for agriculture and
transportation. That hasn't changed, although the methods of agriculture and
transportation have. Steam ships are still used in Egypt and Sudan, to transport goods.
Facts About the Nile River
Length 4,135 miles
Source(s) Lake Victoria, Uganda; Lake Tana, Ethiopia
Mouth Mediterranean Sea, off Egypt
Countries Flows Through Egypt, Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zaire, Kenya,
Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi Major Cities Flows
By/Through Cairo, Karhtoum, Aswan, Luxor, Alexandria, Egypt
Where Name Comes From Greek word Nelios, which means "River Valley"
