When the Nile flooded, it was good for agriculture and the people. But, there also were also certainly bad impacts as well, such as damage to temples, drowning deaths if the Inundation is particularly problematic.
And so the High Aswan Dam came to be. Started in 1952 and finished in 1970, it 11,811 feet long, 364 feet tall, and at its widest point, the base, is 3,215 feet thick. The cost was an estimated one billion dollars.
Not only did the Dam force the painstaking movement of many temples, it also caused around 90,000 Nubians to be relocated. Other results include increased soil salinity, changes to the water table, downstream water plant growth, and an increase in intestinal parasites. There has also been a decrease in the fertility of agricultural land in the Nile delta.
The positives include water irrigation, hydroelectricity, and flood control. The Dam is not going to be breached, so we'll have to deal with the pros and cons.
Our bus dropped us off right on the dam, and we took some time to wander about, looking both at the Nile, then crossing the road that goes over the dam for one last look back at Lake Nasser. It's not as cool to see as the Hoover Dam, but it is still an impressive feat of engineering.
I was warned not to use the zoom of my camera. Rather than Brittney Griner myself and take on, in this case, the Egyptian military, I decided I did not need any close-up photos of anything. So, I'm a free man still, which Carol appreciates (I think).
The Soviets took the lead on helping/consulting on the Dam, although the US and UK pledged millions (US: $56 million, UK: $14 million), which the UK did not follow through on. Writing this, I realized this is getting way too dam wonky, so now to the photos:
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