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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(排水) an area of 1,293,000
square miles. This area is so vast(广阔的) that it 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 flood waters 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
Egypt, Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zaire, Kenya,
Countries Flows Through
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"
