essay about the river nile

Nile River Essay

The Nile River is one of the most important rivers in Africa. It provides water for many countries in the region, including Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia. The river also supports a large number of people who depend on it for their livelihoods. Fishing, farming, and tourism are all important industries that rely on the Nile.

The Nile is also an important source of hydroelectric power. Several dams have been built along the river, providing electricity for millions of people. The Aswan Dam is one of the largest dams in the world, and it has had a huge impact on the economy and way of life in Egypt.

Without the Nile River, Africa would be a very different place. It is an essential part of life for many people, and it plays a vital role in the continent’s economy.

The Nile River begins in Burundi and travels north through northeastern Africa. The Nile River flows through Egypt, where it empties into the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile River is 6,670 kilometers long, making it the world’s longest river. Because of wildlife, plants, and flooding, the Nile River had a significant influence on Egyptian history. The Nile crocodile is a reptile that may grow up to 10 feet long and weigh 1,500 pounds.

Nile crocodiles are native to Africa and live in freshwater ecosystems, such as the Nile River. Nile crocodiles are apex predators and their diet consists of fish, reptiles, birds and mammals. The Nile Perch is a freshwater fish that can grow to be over 6 feet long and weigh up to 440 pounds. Nile perch are native to Africa and live in freshwater ecosystems, such as the Nile River. Nile perch are an important part of the diet of the Nile crocodile.

The plants had an impact on Egyptian history because of the papyrus plant and lotus flower. The papyrus plant is a plant that grows in wetlands and is used to make paper. The lotus flower is a flower that grows in wetlands and is considered to be sacred by the Egyptians.

The flooding of the Nile River had a huge impact on Egyptian history. The Nile River would flood every year and deposit fertile soil on the banks of the river. This would allow farmers to grow crops, such as wheat and barley. The Nile River was also a source of fresh water for drinking, bathing and irrigation.

While crocodiles are known for their tales, they rarely use their back feet under water. The Nile crocodile mostly preys on gazelle, buffalo, wild dogs, and wildebeest. It drags the animal beneath water until it drowns before waiting for it to decay and eating it. The Egyptians hunted the Nile crocodile for its skin because of its desirable coloration. Nile perch can grow up to 6 feet long and weigh up to 440 pounds.

Nile Perch are a very important food fish in Africa. Nile monitor lizards can grow to be over 6 feet long. They eat snails, small mammals, reptiles, and birds. The Nile monitor lizard is hunted by humans for its skin. The Nile soft-shelled turtle can grow up to 3 feet long. It has a hard shell that protects it from predators.

The Nile soft-shelled turtle eats fish, amphibians, and crustaceans. It is hunted by humans for its meat and shell. The Nile tilapia can grow up to 18 inches long. It is a popular food fish in Africa. Nile Valley civilizations were some of the first in the world. They developed along the Nile River in Egypt and Sudan.

The plants had an impact on the Egyptians also because there was plenty to eat and grow. They grew crops like vines, pomegranates, melons, figs, vegetables and wheat or barley. The floods supplied the water and rich soil needed to help grow the crop. The Ancient Egyptians also grew flax which is then made into linen. Reeds also called Papyrus grew near the Nile providing supplies to weave baskets out of them . Papyrus means “That which belongs to the house.”

The Nile River was very important to the Ancient Egyptians. The Nile River also helped to create a sense of order in Ancient Egyptian life. The Nile River flood cycle was a regular event that the Egyptians could count on. The Nile would flood every year between July and November. The yearly floods brought new silt (rich soil) which was perfect for growing crops. The Nile River was a source of fresh water for drinking, cooking and bathing.

The Nile River is still an important part of Egypt today. It is estimated that over 90% of Egypt’s population lives along the Nile River. The river provides water for drinking, irrigation and industry. Fishing is also an important part of the Egyptian economy as well as transportation. The Nile is a symbol of Egypt and its importance to the Egyptians can be seen in many ancient Egyptian paintings, carvings and temples. The Nile River was, and still is, a source of life for the people of Egypt.

Mulberries, papyrus reed, fig, date palm, and lotus are all found in the Nile River. Plants had a significant influence on my life and may continue to do so for some time. The flooding of the Nile River aided the Egyptians considerably. The rains in Africa and Ethiopia’s highlands as well as melting snow caused the Nile River to flood. Watering their crops with the flood allowed the Egyptians to replenish depleted soil.

This caused a booming agriculture which was the mainstay of the Egyptian civilization. The Nile River is not only important for Egypt but all of northeastern Africa. The Nile is a source of water for countries like Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. These countries are all located in the Nile Basin which is an area that relies on the Nile River for its water needs. The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) was set up in 1999 to help develop the Nile Basin region and to improve cooperation between the Nile riparian countries.

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ENCYCLOPEDIC ENTRY

The Nile River flows over 6,600 kilometers (4,100 miles) until emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. For thousands of years, the river has provided a source of irrigation to transform the dry area around it into lush agricultural land. Today, the river continues to serve as a source of irrigation, as well as an important transportation and trade route.

Anthropology, Sociology, Geography, Social Studies, Ancient Civilizations

Women and Children on the Banks of the Nile

Even today, families come to the banks of the Nile River to gather water for their day, against the backdrop of ancient Egyptian ruins.

Photograph by David Boyer

The Nile River flows from south to north through eastern Africa. It begins in the rivers that flow into Lake Victoria (located in modern-day Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya), and empties into the Mediterranean Sea more than 6,600 kilometers (4,100 miles) to the north, making it one of the longest river in the world. The Nile River was critical to the development of ancient Egypt. In addition to Egypt, the Nile runs through or along the border of 10 other African countries, namely, Burundi, Tanzania, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. Its three main tributaries are the White Nile , the Blue Nile , and the Atbara. The soil of the Nile River delta between El Qâhira (Cairo) and the Mediterranean Sea is rich in nutrients, due to the large silt deposits the Nile leaves behind as it flows into the sea. The banks of the Nile all along its vast length contain rich soil as well, thanks to annual flooding that deposits silt. From space, the contrast between the Nile's lush green river banks and the barren desert through which it flows is obvious. For millennia, much of Egypt's food has been cultivated in the Nile delta region. Ancient Egyptians developed irrigation methods to increase the amount of land they could use for crops and support a thriving population. Beans, cotton, wheat, and flax were important and abundant crops that could be easily stored and traded. The Nile River delta was also an ideal growing location for the papyrus plant. Ancient Egyptians used the papyrus plant in many ways, such as making cloth, boxes, and rope, but by far its most important use was in making paper. Besides using the river's natural resources for themselves and trading them with others, early Egyptians also used the river for bathing, drinking, recreation, and transportation. Today, 95 percent of Egyptians live within a few kilometers of the Nile. Canals bring water from the Nile to irrigate farms and support cities. The Nile supports agriculture and fishing. The Nile also has served as an important transportation route for thousands of years. Today, some residents of El Qâhira (Cairo) have begun using private speed boats, water taxis, or ferries to avoid crowded streets. Dams, such as the Aswân High Dam in Egypt, have been built to help to tame the river and provide a source of hydroelectric power. However, the silt and sediment that used to flow north, enriching the soil and building the delta, is now building up behind the dam instead. Instead of growing in size through the soil deposits, the delta is now shrinking due to erosion along the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, routine annual flooding no longer occurs along parts of the Nile. These floods were necessary to flush and clean the water of human and agricultural waste. As a result, the water is becoming more polluted. The Nile River also continues to be an important trade route, connecting Africa with markets in Europe and beyond.

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Why the Nile River Was So Important to Ancient Egypt

By: Patrick J. Kiger

Updated: July 27, 2023 | Original: July 12, 2021

When the Greek historian Herodotus wrote that the ancient Egyptians' land was "given them by the river," he was referring to the Nile , whose waters were essential to the rise of one of the world’s earliest great civilizations.

The Nile, which flows northward for 4,160 miles from east-central Africa to the Mediterranean, provided ancient Egypt with fertile soil and water for irrigation, as well as a means of transporting materials for building projects. Its vital waters enabled cities to sprout in the midst of a desert.

In order to benefit from the Nile, people who lived along its banks had to figure out how to cope with the river’s annual flooding. They also developed new skills and technology, from agriculture to boat and ship building. The Nile even played a role in the construction of the pyramids, the massive marvels that are among the most recognizable reminders of their civilization. Beyond practical matters, the vast river had a profound influence upon the ancient Egyptians’ view of themselves and their world, and shaped their religion and culture.

The Nile was "a critical lifeline that literally brought life to the desert," as Lisa Saladino Haney, assistant curator of Egypt at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, writes on the museum's website. "Without the Nile, there would be no Egypt," writes Egyptologist in his 2012 book, The Nile .

The Nile Was a Source of Rich Farmland

The Nile's modern name comes from the Nelios , the Greek word for river valley. But the ancient Egyptians called it Ar or Aur , meaning "black," a reference to the rich, dark sediment that the Nile's waters carried from the Horn of Africa northward and deposited in Egypt as the river flooded its banks each year in late summer. That surge of water and nutrients turned the Nile Valley into productive farmland, and made it possible for Egyptian civilization to develop in the midst of a desert.

The Nile Valley's thick layer of silt "transformed what might have been a geological curiosity, a version of the Grand Canyon, into a densely populated agricultural country," explains Barry J. Kemp in Ancient Egypt: Anatomy of a Civilization .

The Nile was such a focal point to the ancient Egyptians that their calendar began the year with the first month of the flooding. The Egyptian religion even venerated a deity of flooding and fertility, Hapy , who was depicted as a chubby man with blue or green skin.

According to the UN’s Food And Agriculture Organization , ancient Egyptian farmers were one of the first groups to practice agriculture on a large scale, growing food crops such as wheat and barley, as well as industrial crops such as flax for making clothing. To get the most out of the Nile's waters, ancient Egyptian farmers developed a system called basin irrigation . They constructed networks of earthen banks to form basins, and dug channels to direct floodwater water into the basins, where it would sit for a month until the soil was saturated and ready for planting.

"It is obviously challenging if the land on which you have built your home and grow your food gets flooded by a river every August and September, as the Nile used to do before the Aswan High Dam," explains Arthur Goldschmidt, Jr., a retired Penn State University professor of Middle East history and the author of A Brief History of Egypt . "Creating dikes, channels and basins to move and store some of the Nile waters required ingenuity and probably much trial-and-error experimentation for the ancient Egyptians."

To predict whether they faced dangerous floods or low waters that could result in a poor harvest, the ancient Egyptians built nilometers —stone columns with markings that would indicate the water level.

The River Served as a Vital Transportation Route

In addition to nurturing agriculture, the Nile provided ancient Egyptians with a vital transportation route. As a result, they became skilled boat and ship builders who created both large wooden craft with sails and oars , capable of traveling longer distances, and smaller skiffs made of papyrus reeds attached to wooden frames . 

Artwork from the Old Kingdom , which existed from 2686 to 2181 B.C., depicts boats transporting cattle, vegetables, fish, bread and wood. Boats were so important to the Egyptians that they buried deceased kings and dignitaries with boats that sometimes were so well-constructed that they could have been used for actual travel on the Nile.

The Nile Valley as Part of Identity

The Nile influenced how Egyptians thought of the land in which they lived, according to Haney. They divided their world into Kemet , the "black land" of the Nile Valley, where there was enough water and food for cities to thrive. In contrast, the hot, dry desert areas were Deshret, the "red land." They linked the Nile Valley and oases in the desert areas with life and abundance, while the deserts were associated with death and chaos.

The Nile also played an important role in the creation of the monumental tombs such as the Great Pyramid of Giza . An ancient papyrus diary of an official involved in the construction of the Great Pyramid describes how workers transported massive blocks of limestone on wooden boats along the Nile, and then routed the blocks through a canal system to the site where the pyramid was being constructed. 

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The Nile River has provided fertile land, transportation , food, and freshwater to Egypt for more than 5,000 years. Today, 95% of Egypt’s population continues to live along its banks . Where does the Nile begin? Where does it end? Watch this video, from Nat Geo WILD’s “Destination Wild” series, to find out.

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Home — Essay Samples — Environment — Nile River — How Did Nile Shape Ancient Egypt

How Did Nile Shape Ancient Egypt

• Categories: Ancient Egypt Nile River

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Published: Mar 5, 2024

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Cleaning the river Nile | Stories from the Field

Stories from the Field is an ongoing series from our United Nations Country Teams around the world, highlighting issues, success stories, and actions taken to advance the Sustainable Development Goals.

“We believe in real change and see no limits to our dreams – sometimes, normal volunteers like us have to take things into their own hands.”

Mostafa Habib has been one of the most active founders of VeryNile ; an initiative to develop large scale means to clean the River Nile while raising awareness on the importance of protecting our environment. He raised funds for the cause and is planning to expand and grow VeryNile into a nation-wide movement with a huge impact.

Aside from organizing clean-ups, VeryNile provides training for volunteers on how to consume less plastic. This involves a combination of raising awareness in communities to lower plastic consumption, using social media to mobilize thousands of volunteers to manually clean the banks of the Nile, raising money from corporations to build cleaning boats, as well as finding innovative ways to recycle trash and reuse plastic. It is VeryNile’s dream to transform community attitudes towards plastic consumption and eventually evolve into a continent-wide movement. They aim for a completely clean Nile by 2030 with the help of all stakeholders.

As an initiative that combines volunteer action with protecting the environment, UN Volunteers Programme supports and is proud to partner with VeryNile, working together in promoting and integrating volunteerism to achieve the future that we want by 2030.

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The Nile River: Water Issues and Hydropolitics Research Paper

Introduction, egypt’s dominance, use of the water by ethiopia for developments, sudan and its irrigation projects, works cited.

The Nile River has for a long time been the source of political wrangles. The river is the longest in the world, measuring about 6700 kilometers. The river flows through ten countries namely: Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Eritrea, Sudan, DRC, Tanzania, Uganda, Egypt, and Ethiopia. About 123 million people depend on the river for survival. About 83% of Nile River’s water originates from Ethiopia and Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt uses approximately 90% of the water. In the past few decades, tension has continued to intensify three nations (Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia) that share its waters. The international community attributes the wrangles to concerns on ecosystem degradation, high levels of poverty, water problems, population increase, and political interests.

In the past, the tension arose from such reasons threats of military rule in Egypt, the unending wars in Sudan, and minimal use of the resource by the other seven countries. As of recent times, the tensions still thrive in the region because of Egypt’s dominance over the water and some treaties the country holds purporting to control the river. The 1929 and 1959 Nile Water agreements are at the core of the tensions (Degefu 130-133). It is through these agreements that Egypt swore to protect the waters from interruption by any issues in the other basin states. The agreements also put an end to any constructions near or along its tributaries as it would interrupt the flow to Sudan and Egypt. The agreements are under scrutiny by the other Basin countries that claim their rights to the water (Allan 218-219).

The river’s water is essential for the survival of the states’ population. They require sufficient water supply for them to produce food, and feed their animals among other needs. The availability of the river’s water is paramount to their social and economic well-being. Ethiopia, for example, requires the water to support its industries and hydro-electric power stations. On the other hand, Egypt is jealous over Ethiopians use of the water and reinstates its intentions of protecting the river from exploitation. The state has made its intentions well-known that it is ready to use military force to control the river. As a response to Egypt, Ethiopia claims it is using its rights of exploiting her natural resources. The country has gone further to the extent of renouncing the old colonial treaties (Degefu 214).

In matters concerning the river and Sudan, the state needs the waters mainly for its economic development. Sudan needs the water for its irrigation activities and hydroelectric power. The irrigation projects carried out in the country supports the population by providing food and exporting the surplus (Hopkins 723). The state also needs to protect her people who live on riverbanks from the annual rain floods that come from the Ethiopian highlands. In Egypt’s view, the people living on its banks violate the alleged treaties. It believes it has natural rights and powers bestowed on it to oversee the river. Additionally, Ethiopia’s construction of the Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile angered Egypt and violence was almost about to erupt, but they solved their disagreements amicably (Anderson 64-65).

Despite the disagreements, there have never been violent conflicts among the nations arising from river’s rivalry. Furthermore, the Nile basin states are seeking for ways to solve the problems and have all them satisfied. The international community has also been of help as it helps the countries dialogue if problems arise. For the benefit of all, the states must keep constant communication for their benefit, manage, and sustain the water source and still have their relations intact.

Allan, J. A. The Middle East Water Question: Hydropolitics and the Global Economy . London: I.B. Tauris, 2000. Print.

Anderson, Ewan W. An Atlas of Middle Eastern Affairs . London: Routledge, 2010. Print.

Degefu, Gebre Tsadik. The Nile: Historical, Legal, and Developmental Perspectives: A Warning for the Twenty-first Century . Victoria, B.C.: Trafford, 2003. Print.

Hopkins, Peter Gwynvay. The Kenana Handbook of Sudan . London: Kegan Paul, 2014. Print.

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