WebIt is around 160 kilometres (100 miles) in length and spreads out over 240 kilometres (149 miles) of coastline. Check your inbox for your latest news from us. The Nile River, for all its importance to the Ancient Egyptian, had no deity. The most common reptile is the Nile crocodile, a grayish beast that grows up to 1,500 pounds. Another myth says that the Egyptian deity of water, named Khnum, brings prosperity and creates humans from the mud of the river! The Source of the Nile is Commonly Believed to be Lake Victoria in Uganda, though some consider it to be Lake Albert or even a smaller lake called Rutanzige. It is 6,853 km long and is considered to be one of the longest rivers on Earth. A Species of Blind Fish known as Niloticus can only be found in the Nile River and its tributaries. Apart from that, the river also deposited black soil that was used for farming by ancient Egyptian farmers. Offshore from the delta, fish populations have reportedly declined due to loss of nutrients once delivered by Nile silt. The former is native to Central and Western Africa, where it has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 1996 due to overhunting. They correctly saw it as their source of life, and it played a key role in many of their most important myths. The ingenious King Menes of Egypt is credited with one of the earliest known engineering feats in history. This has remained true for thousands of years. The Nile also supports several large animal species, such as hippopotamuses, which were once common along much of the river, but now mostly inhabit the Sudd and other swampy areas in South Sudan. Rough-hewn blocks were chiseled from raw stone, loaded onto barges, and shipped down the placid Nile River to the halls of the god-king pharaohs. They preserved their dead through mummification and placed them in Tombs close to the Nile River. One of the most notable Nile plants is papyrus, an aquatic flowering sedge that grows as tall reeds in shallow water. One of the fun facts about the Nile River is that Over 250 species of birds live along the banks of the river. A view of Tis Abay, or Blue Nile Falls, in Ethiopia. They called the downpours of other cultures "the Inundation in the sky". The fertile soil is created by the annual spring floods, when the Nile River overflows onto the banks. //--> River Nile waters are shared by eleven countries Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo-Kinshasa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt. The origin of its iconic name may have been derived from Greek; the term neilos refers to a river valley. Nile is derived from the Greek word Neilos, which means river valley. However, other historians think that it comes from the Greek word neilos which means valley. However, this is not just a modern day occurrence. The river is located in Egypt. This was seen as a bad omen in the beginning, but soon the ancient Egyptians realized that, after the flooding, the Nile floods would leave behind black soil important for growing crops and even renewed farmlands. Peculiar creatures lurk in the murky waters of the Nile River; a species of blind fish known as Niloticus. It eventually gets back on track, of course, and crosses Egypt as one of the most famous and influential rivers on Earth. 3. During flood season, this trip would take about two weeks, for there was not a single cataract to delay the trip. In fact, the ancient cities of Alexandria and Rosetta are found in these areas. In ancient Egypt, the three most important plants were flax, wheat, and papyrus. The ancient Egyptians had a grandiose and defining belief about the yearly flooding of the Nile; they believed that it was caused by the tears of joy from the god Hapi. The Nile River is one of Earths most prominent sources, renowned for its cultural, historical, and natural significance. thefield.value = "" Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong. The Nile holds great religious significance to ancient Egyptians, and provided them with good fertile soil and water for farming. You might be tempted to ignore the stubby structures of frontier Aswan, known in Ancient Egypt as Swenett. Shemu was the season of harvest and abundance. The Nile River has played an extremely important role in the civilization, life It winds through several different countries in Africa, providing breathtaking landscapes as it passes through mountain ranges and lush greenery. "Because the river is so long, it offers a unique opportunity to study these interactions on a landscape-wide scale," one of the study's authors tells Eos. He preached that if the river never existed, Egypt would have been consumed in the red sands. It flows through northeastern Africa for about 4,132 miles (6,650 kilometers). The Ancient Egyptians worshipped the crocodile, a sacred animal. The White Nile is the longest, starting with streams that flow into Lake Victoria, the world's largest tropical lake. Praise? The White Nile originates in East Africa, while the Blue Nile originates in Ethiopia. Many in Egypt worry the dam will also limit water supplies long after the reservoir is filled, compounding other problems related to population growth, water pollution, land subsidence and climate change, along with the ongoing loss of silt at Aswan. It once was a common part of the river's native vegetation, and while it still grows naturally in Egypt, it's reportedly less common in the wild today. The ancient Egyptians used the natural Ships would return bearing cargo and men, their sails fattened by northern trade winds. 1. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, pictured here in December 2019, is expected to be Africa's largest hydropower plant once it's fully operational. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, Nigeria stands at the source of the river one the longest and oldest in the world. The Nile is also home to some interesting Flora including the Giant Water Lily which can grow up to 3 feet across. The water that flows downstream is fresh and un-saline, allowing important species such as fish, reptiles, mammals, amphibians and birds to thrive along its banks. It is a Martian landscape, inhabitable except for a few scattered oases. Pharaohs often built Temples and Monuments near the Nile River in order to Honor their Gods. Complex water bodies cant just be traced by a simple line from the origin to the emptying spot, often referred to as a river mouth. It provided an important source of food for them, with fish such as mullet and eel occupying a particular role in their diet. The Nile River is the Worlds Longest River, stretching for a total of 4,258 miles Which is one of fun facts about the nile river.. Definition, Examples, Pros, and Cons, The Surprising Beauty and Benefits of Driftwood, 12 Unbelievable Submerged and Underwater Forests Around the World, 7 Deserts That Used to Be Verdant Fields and Forests, 13 of the Most Bizarre Lakes in the World, Explore Dinosaur Fossils, Wildflowers, and Dark Skies at Big Bend National Park, Freshwater Biome: Types, Plants, and Wildlife, 10 Bizarre Places on Earth Where Water Disappears, 10 Extraordinary Places to Visit in Central Asia, ancient city of Shedet (now called Faiyum, has been stable for about 30 million years. If you liked our article about ancient Egypt Nile River facts, then why not take a look at our articles about ancient Egypt games for kids or ancient Egypt maps for kids? 8. The Nile River is Africas Longest River, stretching for a total of 4,258 miles which is one of the fun facts about the Nile River. When you buy through the links on our site we may earn a commission. a+='lto:' How did the ancient Egyptians use the Nile River? These cities were the nerve center of Ancient Egypt. Jiseon Shin - View of the Nile and the desert banks. It's the longest river on Earth. Its importance dates back to Ancient Egypt, where it served as the primary source of sustenance for the Pharaohs. [5] [6] Of the world's major rivers, the Nile is one of the smallest, as measured by annual flow in cubic metres of water. Ancient Egyptians were obsessed with the different physical elements that shaped their everyday lives. Dating back to 2900 BC, he created an earthen dam on the banks of the Nile. WebIntroduction. There were no semi-trucks, no Amazon Prime 1-day shipping offers. Were you to hitchhike a ride on a satellite, you could see the Nile River in its entirety. WebAncient Egypt for Kids. The Nile has been an important source of life for people throughout history. Nowadays, the variety of flora and fauna along the Nile riverbanks has increased massively. Beyond its historical significance, the Nile also boasts tremendous natural beauty. The former is native to Central and Western Africa, where it has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 1996 due to overhunting. 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 It was thought to embody the god Hapi, who blessed the land with life, as well as Ma'at, who represented the concepts of truth, harmony and balance, according to the AHE. Water hyacinth, a plant that is originally from South America, also grows on the river now. A sign proclaims the farthest source of the Nile in Rwanda's Nyungwe rainforest. This fed the river's mystique, and it's why classical Greek and Roman art sometimes portrayed it as a god with a hidden face. The Nile also brought a secret ingredient: all the sediment it collected along the way, mainly black silt eroded by the Blue Nile and Atbara from basalt in Ethiopia. The Nile River was so important to life for the ancient Egyptians that they even had a god for it. The White Nile's source proved much more elusive, though, despite many efforts to find it including those by Scottish explorer David Livingstone, who was rescued from one mission in 1871 by Welsh journalist Henry Morton Stanley, via the famous quote "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?" This city was known to the Greeks as "Crocodilopolis," since its residents not only worshipped Sobek, but also honored an earthly manifestation of the god: a living crocodile named "Petsuchos," whom they covered in jewelry and kept in a temple, according to The Guardian. People of Egypt would use different types of boats for shipping goods to different areas through the Nile waters. In the summer, those two miles might expand to five or ten. This was seen as a bad omen in the beginning, but soon the ancient Egyptians realized that, after the flooding, the Nile floods would leave behind black soil important for growing crops and even renewed farmlands. A view of the Aswan High Dam, captured by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station. The Nile Delta formed by Silt Deposits from the river as it enters the Mediterranean Sea is one of the most Fertile Regions in the world. You might focus on the more impressive pillars of Cairo and the temples of Giza but there would be no pyramids and no shrines without little ol' Aswan and the Nile River. Located on the Blue Nile, the $5 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has been under construction since 2011, and is expected to generate 6.45 gigawatts once it's fully operational in 2022. [1]Cmany 6 Fun Facts about the History of the Nile Rivers jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_5628_2_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_5628_2_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); This was because this was the side that the sun and the sun god Ra came up on every day. [5]Encyclopedia Britannica Nile Rivers jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_5628_2_5').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_5628_2_5', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); The Nile River held a very important practical part in the everyday life of ancient Egyptians. In addition to its impressive size and importance, there are also a number of fun facts about the Nile River that many people may not know. Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan have made little progress despite nearly a decade of on-and-off negotiations, although they did reach an initial deal at a January 2020 meeting. It's hard to overstate the Nile's importance to people and wildlife throughout its basin. A thicket of papyrus grows along the Victoria Nile in Uganda. It continues north as the Albert Nile (Mobutu), later becoming the Mountain Nile (Bahr al Jabal) in South Sudan, and joins the Gazelle River (Bahr el Ghazal), after which it's called the White Nile (Bahr al Abyad). WebThe River Nile was the main highway of Ancient Egypt. It goes through 11 countries Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan and Egypt and drains 3.3 million square kilometers (1.3 million miles), or about 10% of the African continent. Its also important to heed local advice regarding swimming times and places, such as avoiding dark spots of organisms or being aware of any flash floods that may occur during the rainy season. It is 6,853 km long and is considered to be one of the longest rivers on Earth. Along its convoluted course, it crosses 11 different African countries, creating opportunities for trade and strategic relationships between them. With an eye skyward and pointing back at the world of mortals left behind, the vessel made its fateful descent forward into the stars. function clearText(thefield){ It is rich in agriculture and has been farmed for thousands of years. Nigeria stands at the source of the river one the longest and oldest in the world. Lungfish are found as far up the stream as Lake Victoria! 14. The Nile was seen as a gateway to the afterlife, with the eastern side representing life and the western side considered the land of the dead. The water that flows downstream is fresh and un-saline, allowing important species such as fish, reptiles, mammals, amphibians and birds to thrive along its banks. (Photo: Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team/NASA/GSFC). The Nyabarongo is also fed by the Mbirurume and Mwogo rivers, which arise from Rwanda's Nyungwe Forest, and some consider this to be the farthest source of the Nile. Additionally, its best to wear protective clothing like a wetsuit if you plan on swimming for a longer period of time or in cooler temperatures. The Nile River is one of the most iconic and historical bodies of water in the world, with a rich cultural significance that dates back thousands of years. Yes, there are crocodiles in the Nile River! A map of the Nile River with political boundaries. Check out below for the top 10 facts about the Nile River. The Egyptian Nile crocodile god is also worshipped by many people. Yes, you can swim in the Nile River but there are some safety precautions to keep in mind. That has stirred anxiety in those countries, both of which are already prone to water shortages, given the scale of the project. Follow along as we explore some mind-blowing Nile river facts for kids (and adults)! Then, it was the site of some of the empires most impressive temples and also a political hub. This annual flooding cycle enticed water-loving amphibians, reptiles and birds to come dwell in the Nile. His implementation of a system equipped with floodgates helped usher in a new era of innovation in disaster management and agricultural development. Here are a few reasons why this river is so influential and interesting. Ancient Egypt was one of the greatest and most powerful civilizations in the history of the world. Interesting Facts. WebThe Nile is the longest river in Africa and the second longest river in the world after the Amazon River., [3] [4] though this has been contested by research suggesting that the Amazon River is slightly longer. The water is relatively safe to swim in as long as you avoid areas that may be polluted or where wildlife and dangerous currents can be an issue. 9. They would also catch poultry, such as ducks or cranes, that lived around the river. In antiquity, the Nile River served as a major artery for transportation. You picture the towering obelisks of Memphis and the ochre domes of Cairo. There are also soft-shelled turtles, cobras, black mambas, water snakes and three species of monitor lizards, which reportedly average 1.8 meters (6 feet) in length. They used the river to transport the large stones from the quarries to the final building destinations. The Nile was the source of much of ancient Egypt's wealth. The Egyptian Flag is The Nile was an important source of food for the ancient Egyptians, with fish such as mullet and eel being especially common. Frequently Asked Questions What was unique about the Nile Valley's flooding? After Ahket, the season of Inundation, villages planted the first seeds. You probably know the River Nile as the longest river in Egypt - you know, that place with the pyramids and the mummies. Another ancient Egyptian god had strong ties with the Nile: Hapi, who represented fertility, was believed to be in charge of the floods. However, some consider Lake Albert in Congo to be its source while a few stalwarts are certain it originated from an inconspicuous lake named Rutanzige. The water is relatively safe to swim in as long as you avoid areas that may be polluted or where wildlife and dangerous currents can be an issue. The Source of the Nile is Commonly Believed to be Lake Victoria in Uganda, though some consider it to be Lake Albert or even a smaller lake called Rutanzige. It winds through several different countries in Africa, providing breathtaking landscapes as it passes through mountain ranges and lush greenery. 03 At its widest, the river has a width of 2.8 km. For this reason, they We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! It stood for fertility, medicine, and unexpected death. The idea of mantle plumes shaping topography on the surface isn't new, but the huge scale of the Nile basin could illuminate this relationship like never before. Where boats could no travel over desert sands, Egyptians rode camels from one hidden cistern to another. When it comes to the biodiversity of the Nile River, there are many fascinating facts to uncover. The Nile River is a freshwater river. By joining Kidadl you agree to Kidadls Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receiving marketing communications from Kidadl. Such manuscripts held up pretty incredibly to our date and helped us learn about the ancient Egyptian civilization timeline. This contrast is visible from space, where a long, green oasis can be seen hugging the river amid the bleakly tan landscape around it. One of the fun facts about the Nile is that it was an important part of Ancient Trade Routes and Many Cities grew up around it. This was driven by the observation of the sunset, as the sun metaphorically dies everyday when it sets to the west! The Egyptians couldnt resist how lightweight papyrus canoes would be, so they went the extra mile to invent a way to maintain a water seal and create papyrus boats. Tour Egypt Egypt: Hapi, God of the Nile, Fertility, the North and South, Sciencing Facts About the Ancient Egyptian Nile Delta Area, National Geographic Kids NILE RIVERs FACTS, Top 10 Least Populated Countries in the World, 233 Ranked Inhabited Areas and Countries by Population. There was only water. Becoming evolutionary adapted over thousands of years their black fringes split their bodies lengthwise to help detect even slight changes in pressure or vibration in their exceptional sensory receptors. In Ancient Times, boats of many shapes and sizes skimmed across the waters of the mighty river Nile. With its construction, Egypt doesnt have to worry about the previous problems. Ancient Egyptians used to mummify crocodiles which they considered sacred animals. Ancient societies would come to commemorate the personified magisterial spirit who bequeathed their civilization with such awe-inspiring supernatural phenomena repeating each year. 21. Blue herons and white ibis birds scope out the shallow waters for small fish, eels and snakes. Due to the fanning nature of the river, it has made this part of Egypt extremely fertile. In Ancient Times, there were two kinds of boats used on the Nile Papyrus Reed Boats and Wooden Boats made from Cedar or Acacia. The earliest boats were moved using oars, and were made from bundles of papyrus reeds tied tightly together. (Photo: Rod Waddington [CC BY-SA 2.0]/Flickr), 12 Fascinating Facts About the Amazon River, What Is Afforestation? The River Nile is said to be the oldest river in the world! The name Nile may have originated from the Greek word for River Valley (neilos). The Nile Delta formed by Silt Deposits from the river as it enters the Mediterranean Sea is one of the most Fertile Regions in the world. The fan-shaped Delta is flat as a pancake and green as a leprechaun. 7. if (f) d=f Its been like this since ancient times, and despite how far civilization has reached, the Nile remains the magnet that brings Egyptians into its vicinity. Nile crocodiles are said to be around 20 ft (6m) in length, and the Nile perch is 6.6 ft (2m) in length! Scientists tend to go by the longest continuous channel in a system, but that may still leave room for ambiguity. The Lower Nile historically flooded in summer, which mystified early Egyptians, especially since it almost never rained where they lived. One big shift came in 1970 with completion of the Aswan High Dam, which impounds the river in southern Egypt to create a reservoir called Lake Nasser. One of the most well known river Nile facts is the river's ability to produce extremely. To deliver those benefits, however, the dam will need to hold back lots of water that would otherwise flow to Sudan and Egypt. This impressive touch from nature has enabled communities around this region to flourish on its useful soil cover, filling humanity with abundance. It would be for centuries, too, as expeditions repeatedly failed to find its source, with Egyptians, Greeks and Romans often foiled by a region called the Sudd (in what's now South Sudan), where the Nile forms a vast swamp. If you are enjoying our article on ancient Egypt Nile river facts and their importance in that period, then make sure to check out ancient china trade and ancient fish fun fact articles here on Kidadl. Nile Crocodile Facts - The Nile Crocodile has been a major component of the Egyptian culture and way of life since the first Egyptians settled along the fertile banks of the Nile. It receives essentially no rain. These sacred sites served as symbols of faithfulness and served as testaments to the Pharaohs unwavering devotion to their deities. Interesting Facts about the Nile river: The Nile River is the longest river in the world. The Nile flows north for about 6,650 kilometers (4,132 miles), 21 Fun Facts About The Nile River (You Must Know). Most of Ancient Egypts historical sites are along the banks of the Nile River, including cities
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