Greece to Egypt Sightseeing - Nile River Cruise Package Tours - Nile Cruise Tour Packages Egypt
The Nile River is the longest river in the world (6,695 kilometers) and is comprised of two branches: the White Nile and the Blue Nile. The main source of the White Nile is Lake Victoria, located between Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya, while the Blue Nile flows from Lake Tana in Ethiopia.
Once these two rivers meet in Sudan, the river continues to flow northwards into Egypt, by way of Lake Nasser and Aswan Dam, which was constructed to prevent the overflowing of the Nile. After its course through Egypt, the Nile spills into the Mediterranean Sea. It is basically a string of streams, waterfalls, dams, rapids and swamps.
The great Egyptian civilization is interwoven with the Nile. The river has been an essential factor in Egyptian life since ancient times. The first inhabitants of Egypt settled on the banks of the Nile, for it provided them with drinking water and food, and was a much needed source of irrigation, in such a hot and dry land.
The Nile also provided the settlers with papyrus reeds, which were used to make huts and paper. Every year, the Nile would overflow, spreading fertile soil across the fields, causing the agriculture of the area to flourish. It is said that the low water levels and the failure of the Nile to flood was the foundation of the fall of the Old Kingdom, a fact that was reported in the Bible.
Throughout history, the Nile has been the lifeline of Egypt. From ancient times to the present day, the river has been used to transport goods and people to destinations along the river banks.
Ancient Egyptians hauled stone and wood for the construction of the Giza Pyramids from places near and far, by way of the Nile. Today, the Nile is used for both commercial and tourism purposes.
