Ancient Egypt
The Nile River
INFO
The Nile River is the longest river in Africa. It's also the longest river in
the world! It was a most important river to the ancient Egyptian people.
The Nile flows into the Mediterranean Sea. It flows right through Egypt,
bringing all kinds of benefits like water to irrigate crops, and a river for
sailing ships from ancient Egyptian port to port. The river was full of
fish and the river banks were full of good things to eat.
Each year, water would melt on the mountain tops located to the south
of Egypt. The water would rush down the mountain and into the Nile
River. As the flood waters receded, they left behind rich soil. Crops
grew very well in this rich soil.
Today, the Nile no longer floods because of the construction of the
Aswan Dam.
Questions:
1. The Nile River is the ________river in Africa and the world.
2. The Nile River flows into _________Sea.
3. Name 2 benefits the Nile River brings to Africa.
4. Where does the water melt each year?
5. As the water recedes what does it leave?
6. Does the Nile River still flood? Explain.
Th e Ri v er N i le
The River Nile is about 6,670 km (4,160 miles) in
length and is the longest river in Africa and in the
world. Although it is generally associated with
Egypt, only 22% of the Nile’s course runs through
Egypt.
In Egypt, the River Nile creates a fertile green valley across the
desert. It was by the banks of the river that one of the oldest
civilizations in the world began. The ancient Egyptians lived and
farmed along the Nile, using the soil to produce food for themselves
and their animals.
Quick facts about the River Nile
Continent
Africa
Countries it flows
through
Uganda, Ethiopia,
Sudan, Burundi, Egypt
Length
Approx 6,695 kilometers
(4,160 miles)
Number of
tributaries
2
Source
Burundi, central Africa
Mouth
Egypt into the
Mediterranean Sea
Questions:
1. The Nile is _______________miles long.
2. Only about _______% (percentage) of the Nile runs through Egypt.
3. Along the Nile the Ancient Egyptians__________________ and
___________________ to produce food for ______________ and
their_________________.
Where is the River Nile?
The River Nile is in Africa. It originates in Burundi, south of the
equator, and flows northward through northeastern Africa,
eventually flowing through Egypt and finally draining into the
Mediterranean Sea.
CLICK BELOW!
1.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=46820
2.
http://www.earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=1234
3.
http://www.earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/GreatBend/
Where is the source of the River
Nile?
Lake Victoria, Africa's biggest lake, is generally thought of as the
source of the River Nile. On the northern edge of the lake, water
pours over a waterfall, known as Ripon Falls, into a narrow opening
which some people believe is the beginning of the River Nile.
The true source of the River Nile
Ripon Falls may be the starting-point of the river, but the many
streams that flow into Lake Victoria could claim to be the true
source.
Much of Lake Victoria is surrounded by mountains with streams
tumbling down into the lake. The largest tributary of Lake Victoria is
the Kagera river. The Kagera and its tributary the Ruvubu, with its
headwaters in Burundi, is now considered to be the true source of
the Nile. It is from here that the Nile is measured as the world's
longest river.
QUESTIONS:
1. Where is the Nile River located? _______________
2. What is the true source of the Nile? ________________
3. What is the largest tributary of Lake Victoria?_____________
What are the two main rivers that
flow into the River Nile?
The River Nile is formed from the
White Nile, which originates at
Lake Victoria and the Blue Nile,
which originates at Lake Tana in
Ethiopia. These rivers meet in
Sudan and then go on their long
journey northwards towards the
sea.
The White Nile is a lot bigger than
the Blue Nile, but because of
losses along the way the it only
contributes about 15% to the flow
of the combined Nile. The Blue
Nile, rising in Ethiopia, contributes
about 85% to the flow of the Nile
that passes through Egypt to the
Mediterranean.
Questions:
1. The Nile River is formed by the ______ River and
__________River.
2. The White Nile originates from the ____________.
3. The Blue Nile originates from the _____________.
4. The White Nile is bigger/smaller than the Blue Nile.
5. The White Nile contributes _____% to the Nile.
6. The Blue Nile contributes ______% to the Nile.
Why did the Ancient Egyptians live
near the River Nile?
Most Egyptians lived near the Nile as it provided water, food,
transportation and excellent soil for growing food.
Why was the Nile River so important
to the Ancient Egyptians?
Ancient Egypt could not have existed without the river Nile. Since
rainfall is almost non-existent in Egypt, the floods provided the only
source of moisture to sustain crops.
Every year, heavy summer rain in the Ethiopian highlands, sent a
torrent of water that overflowed the banks of the Nile. When the
floods went down it left thick rich mud (black silt) which was
excellent soil to plant seeds in after it had been ploughed.
The ancient Egyptians could grow crops only in the mud left behind
when the Nile flooded. So they all had fields all along the River Nile.
Find out about Egyptian Farming(Click me!)
Questions:
1. The Ancient Egyptians lived near the Nile because, _______,
__________, and __________.
2. Could Ancient Egypt exist without the Nile River? Explain.
3. Why was black silt useful?
4. Where did the Ancient Egyptians grow their crops?
What else did the Nile provide for
the Ancient Egyptians?
Reeds, called papyrus, grew along side the Nile. The Egyptians
made paper and boats from the reeds.
Find out about Egyptian Writing
The Nile also gave the ancient Egyptians food. They used spears
and nets to catch fish. They would also use the nets to catch birds
that flew close to the surface of the water.
Another way the Nile helped the ancient Egyptians was in trade. The
Nile was the quickest and easiest way to travel from place to place.
What was the area next to the River
Nile called?
This area was known as the Black Land. Further away from the
river was the Red Land, a region of inhospitable desert.
Questions:
1. What reeds grew along the Nile?_________________
2. The Egyptians made it into ___________and ____________.
3. The Egyptians used _______and__________ to catch the fish
and ________.
4. What were the lands next to the Nile called?
_________________ and ___________________
When did the Nile flood?
The River Nile flooded every year between June and September, in
a season the Egyptians called akhet - the inundation.
Why did the Nile Flood?
Melting snow and heavy summer rain in the Ethiopian Mountains
sent a torrent of water causing the banks of the River Nile in Egypt
to overflow on the flat desert land.
Why does the Nile not flood
now ?
The construction of the Aswan Dam in the 1960's
meant that from 1970 the annual flood was
controlled.
Questions:
1.
The Nile flooded from ________ until __________________.
2.
This season is called_____________________________.
3.
The flooding is caused by __________________and ________________ in
the ____________ Mountains.
4.
The annual flooding was stopped because the construction of _______ in
the ______________.
Who was the Nile God?
Hapi was the Nile god. Honoring a god was very important, so when
a flood came the Egyptians would thank Hapi for bringing fertility to
the land.
Interesting Facts about the River
Nile:
The Nile River is the longest river in the world.
The Nile flows into the Mediterranean Sea.
The largest source of the Nile is Lake Victoria.
The Nile has a length of about 6,695 kilometers (4,160 miles).
Its average discharge is 3.1 million litres (680,000 gallons) per
second.
The Nile basin is huge and includes parts of Tanzania, Burundi,
Rwanda, Congo (Kinshasa), Kenya.
The name Nile comes from the Greek “neilos”, which means valley.
The Ancient Egyptians called the river Ar or Aur (black) because of
the colour of the sediment left after the river’s annual flood.
Questions:
1. _______ the Nile god was thanked by the __________ for
bringing __________ to the land.
2. The ______________ is the longest river in the world.
3. The Nile flows into _____________________ Sea.
4. The largest source of the Nile is _____________________.
5. The Nile is ________________ miles long.
6. The Nile’s average discharge per second is ___________ gallons.
7. The Nile basin includes parts of Tanzania, ____________,
Rwanda, __________, and Kenya.
8. The name Nile “Neilos” means _______________.
9. The ancient Egyptians called the river Ar or Aur; which means
_______. This is the _______ of the sediment left after the
flooding.
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