The Aswan Dam
Good or Bad?
Name:
Date:
Directions:
Read the historical context and task below. Look at and read the
documents, and use them to help you complete the task.
Historical Context:
The Aswan High Dam was built in Egypt in the 1960s to control
the flooding of the Nile River. This helped stop the flooding, but
as with any new technology, it created new problems.
Task:
Using the documents, answer the questions below.
Document 1
Fishing decreased because fish
were blocked by the dam. They
could not travel down the river.
The fishing industry improved for
the southern part of Egypt
because of the creation of Lake
Nasser.
“Egypt” http://www.theodora.com.maps
1. Copy the caption above that explains how fishing was changed in a good
way?
2. Copy the caption above that explains how was fishing changed in a bad
way?
Document 2
“Lake Nasser” [http://www.inform.umd.edu] (August 18, 2000)
 As a result of the dam being built, Lake Nasser flooded many homes and
monuments along the Nile’s riverbank.
Document 3
Corbis. “On the River Nile”, http://search.yahoo.gallery.com
 Lake Nasser, created by the dam, provided a recreation area for people.
3. Using documents 2 and 3 explain one good result and one bad result
from the creation of Lake Nasser.
One good result of the dam is it provided a recreation
area for people. One bad result of the dam is that it
flooded houses.
Document 4
Sherwood, Julie. “The High Dam” [http://www.touregypt.net/highdam.htm] (August 15, 2000)
 The electricity producing capability of the dam doubled Egypt’s available
supply of electricity.
4. How did the dam affect the amount of power for the people of Egypt?
The dam doubled the amount of power for Egypt.
5. Was this good or bad? This
was good because
Document 5
Amount of
Fertilizer in
Tons
Fertilizer Needed Since the
Building of the Aswan Dam
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
0
1970 1980 1986 1996
Years
 Farmers have been forced to use about a million tons of man-made fertilizer
to make up for the loss of the rich soil that was once left behind from the
flooding of the river.
6. Why did the farmers need more fertilizer after the Nile was not flooding
any longer?
Farmers needed more fertilizer because the river washed away the good soil.
7.Was this a good or bad result? This was bad because they used more
chemicals.
Combined Chart Directions:
Now that you have looked at the documents, fill in the chart below to help you
write a paragraph.
REMEMBER TO:
 Use details from the documents
 Write complete sentences
 Proofread your paragraph.
 Include an opening and a closing sentence
Historical Context:
The Aswan High Dam was built in Egypt in the 1960’s to control the flooding
of the Nile River. This helped stop the flooding, but as with any new
technology, it created other problems.
Task:
Using the documents, write a paragraph describing two (2) good results and
two (2) bad results from the building of the dam. Make sure you have at least
six (6) sentences in your paragraph.
Use this chart to help plan your paragraph.
Using the documents, list two (2) good results and two (2) bad results from
building the Aswan Dam.
Good Results
Bad Results
1.
1.
2.
2.
Write a paragraph using at least six (6) sentences, describing two (2) good
results and two (2) bad results of the building of the Aswan High Dam.
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