The immensity of this vital source is remarkable and helps their respective economies grow and their citizens lead healthier lives. Facts 1. Along with the nearby Atbara, its water comes from the highlands of Ethiopia, where monsoon patterns cause both rivers to shift between a summer torrent and winter trickle. In the rainy season, the river would flood the nearby areas, causing a lot of destruction. For this reason, they designated different gods to honor the greater-than-life significance of such elements. The most common reptile is the Nile crocodile, a grayish beast that grows up to 1,500 pounds. a+='lto:' 04 On average, the river has a depth of 9.5 meters. This grieving figure highly revered his beloved river, expressing such exultant emotion that it ultimately gave way to an annual surge of flood water along its banks. Meticulously crafted with life, this majestic flora can reach sizes of up to three feet across. The rich topsoil of the Nile basin can measure up to 70 feet deep. The Nile is a north-flowing river located in northeastern Africa in Egypt. b+='ancient-egypt-online.com' Nowadays, the variety of flora and fauna along the Nile riverbanks has increased massively. They would later use donkeys, horses, and carriages to carry these goods on land. document.write(a+b+c+d+e) This annual flooding cycle enticed water-loving amphibians, reptiles and birds to come dwell in the Nile. Limestone came from quarries southeast of Giza and had to travel a distance of 6.2 miles till it reached its destination. [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. That's why the ancient Egyptians named the river Ar, meaning black. The dam has also led to a gradual decline in the fertility and productivity of riverside farmland, Britannica adds, noting that "Egypt's annual application of about 1 million tons of artificial fertilizers is an inadequate substitute for the 40 million tons of silt formerly deposited annually by the Nile flood." Living fully submersed amongst silt, clay, and sediment, these extraordinary amphibians move amidst the rivers currents and have remained limited to the Nile and its tributaries since ancient times. This satellite view highlights the contrast between the green vegetation along the Nile and the surrounding Sahara. By 3000 BCE, the Egyptians were using boats made of wood, with sails to move them around. WebThe Nile was Ancient Egypt's superhighway and was always busy with boats carrying people and goods back and forth to all the settlements along the banks of the river. Set then traps Osiris inside and throws him in the Nile, which carries him away to Byblos. This has remained true for thousands of years. They called the downpours of other cultures "the Inundation in the sky". This included food such as fish, transportation and trade, as well as extremely nutrient rich soil to grow crops. It is the longest river in the world and is the primary source of water and fertile land in Egypt, making it essential to the countrys survival. Both sub-regions contain unique ecosystems with fascinating wildlife that lures millions of tourists each year!Can you swim in the Nile river?Yes, you can swim in the Nile River but there are some safety precautions to keep in mind. Akhet was followed by Peret, the growing season, and Shemu, the harvesting season. So next time you hear someone mention the Nile River, why not surprise them with some fun facts about the history and wildlife of this majestic waterway? During flood season, this trip would take about two weeks, for there was not a single cataract to delay the trip. After stubbornly pushing north for most of its course, the Nile takes a surprising turn in the midst of the Sahara. Shemu was the season of harvest and abundance. In fact, in ancient Egyptian times, large portions of the Egyptian population lived here as well. For example, Alexandria is actually the largest city in this region with a population of over 4 million people. 4. Lucas - Depictions of Snakes, Wadjet Amulet. Find The Nile Delta River flooded and provided them with fertile land, and the water was used for irrigation by farmers and for bathing by most people. On the flip side, it also meant that in some drier years, there could be crop failures and famine. Scientists tend to go by the longest continuous channel in a system, but that may still leave room for ambiguity. Only about an inch (2.5 centimeters) of rain falls throughout Egypt each year. Osiris' body is eventually found by his wife, Isis, who retrieves him and tries to bring him back to life. 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. Around 4,000 B.C., the Ancient Egyptians first lashed bundles of papyrus stalks together to make rafts. Another deity, known as Hapi, is said to control the floods of the river. In fact, the ancient cities of Alexandria and Rosetta are found in these areas. Some studies argue that the Amazon river is longer, but no concrete evidence yet exists. The abundant Nile River provided much needed irrigation, even in ancient times. 20. The length of the Nile River is approximately 6,650 kilometers (4,130 miles), making it the longest river in the world. Another important religious narration involving the River Nile is about the Prophet Moses, who was a leader who faced many tribulations during his lifetime. Here are 21 Fun Facts About The Nile River! Hapi, for all his sadness and love for the river, could be felt as a sign of surrender and acceptance to something supremely more powerful than any one being or culture itself. The White Nile may be longer and steadier, but the Blue Nile supplies nearly 60% of the water that reaches Egypt each year, mostly during summer. The great civilization of ancient Egypt They made bread out of wheat and also traded a lot of wheat with the Middle East. No bridges spanned the Nile's girth in ancient times. 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. 02 The rivers basin covers a total area of an estimated 3.4 million km. Egyptians were excellent traders. Due to this story, the AHE adds, anyone eaten by a crocodile in ancient Egypt "was considered fortunate in a happy death.". [7]Cool Kid Facts Nile Rivers Facts jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_5628_2_7').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_5628_2_7', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); Today, due to their habitat shrinking their main habitat is in the southern parts of the Nile River. Later, craftsmen learned to build wooden ships using local acacia wood. The Niles journey across Africa comes to a conclusion at the delta. This is where the Nile empties into the Mediterranean sea. A Species of Blind Fish known as Niloticus can only be found in the Nile River and its tributaries. The dam has also changed the Nile in negative ways, however. 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. It flows through northeastern Africa for about 4,132 miles (6,650 kilometers). Even though it is known as the life of ancient Egypt, it also flows through several other Aside from the underworld of ancient Egyptian mythology, the Nile may also hold secrets about a more literal underworld. Feedback? Most cities in Egypt lie along with these The annual Nile River flooding is unique in that it is predictiable. But three crops stood out: wheat, flax, and papyrus. Known as the "Great Bend," this is one of several features caused by a huge underground rock formation called the Nubian Swell. Both Ethiopia and Sudan have proposed more Nile dams, it notes, and with some 400 million people living in countries along the Nile many of whom already experience droughts and energy shortages there's a good chance even more water will need to remain upriver in coming years. Farmers cultivated all manner of crops: barely for beer, cotton for clothing, melons and pomegranates and figs for an evening meal. The Milky Way was seen as a celestial mirror of the Nile, for example, and the sun god Ra was believed to drive his ship across it. The ingenious King Menes of Egypt is credited with one of the earliest known engineering feats in history. These served as important trade harbors for the Egyptians. No one could dare misuse or pollute the Nile! There is the Kagera River, which flows into Lake Victoria from Lake Rweru in Burundi, but it too receives water from two other tributaries: the Ruvubu and the Nyabarongo, which flows into Lake Rweru. It is a Saharan playground for dust storms and locusts, where shovel-snouted lizards dance on two feet to avoid the scorching sands of mid-day. This variety makes it an ideal spot for sightseeing and exploration.What is unique about the nile river?The Nile River is unique in several ways. This diverse range of bird life is just one of the many fun facts about the Nile River. The west bank, where the sun set, was the side of death. Therefore, when a Pharaoh passed away, he was sent down the sacred Nile River in a boat. There is some debate over the Nile's age, but in late 2019, a team of researchers reported that Nile drainage has been stable for about 30 million years or five times longer than previously thought. For example, during the rainy season, the Nile quickly awakens under its surface, rising steadily with each transient wave. By joining Kidadl you agree to Kidadls Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receiving marketing communications from Kidadl. The Nile River nurtures a long, narrow oasis through the Sahara. A Species of Blind Fish known as Niloticus can only be found in the Nile River and its tributaries. The White Nile originates in East Africa, while the Blue Nile originates in Ethiopia. That's why crocodiles were associated with the god of fertility, Sobek, the AHE explains, and this event was seen as the catalyst that made the Nile so fertile. Some of these boats could carry cargo up to 500 tons. 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. Ancient Egyptians were obsessed with the different physical elements that shaped their everyday lives. 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. The Blue Nile gave up its secrets first, and an expedition from ancient Egypt may have even traced it back to Ethiopia. Beyond its historical significance, the Nile also boasts tremendous natural beauty. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. In one popular myth, the god Osiris is betrayed by his jealous brother Set, who tricks him into lying down in a sarcophagus, pretending it's a gift.
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