TheNileRiver

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 an area of 1 293 000 square miles This area is so vast that is 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 floodwaters 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 Countries Flows Through Egypt Sudan Uganda Ethiopia Zaire Kenya Tanzania Rwanda Burundi Major Cities Flows By Through Cairo Karhtoum As