Nile
River
The longest river in Africa, and the reason there is an Egypt.
The Nile flows north for about 6,650 kilometres, from the heart of Africa to the Mediterranean Sea. Two rivers make it: the White Nile and the Blue Nile, which meet at the city of Khartoum in Sudan.
Almost no rain falls in Egypt. For thousands of years the river flooded every summer and left behind fertile mud, and that is where the ancient Egyptians grew their food. Even today nearly all Egyptians live close to its banks.
- long
- 6,650 km
- countries share its water
- 11
- rivers make it: the White and the Blue Nile
- 2
- 1
The Nile flows from south to north. That is why the south of Egypt is called Upper Egypt.
- 2
Since 1970 a great dam at Aswan holds back the yearly flood. Behind it lies one of the largest man-made lakes in the world.
- 3
The ancient Egyptians built their calendar around the river: their year began when the flood came.
Question 1 of 2
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