The Nile River

The Nile River

The Nile is 6,690 km long, extending through 35 degrees of latitude as

it flows from south to north. Its basin covers approximately one-tenth

of the African continent, with a catchment area of 3,007,000 km²,

which is shared by eight countries: Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda,

Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Zaire. Its main sources are found in

Ethiopia and the countries around Lake Victoria.

All along the Nile's course from its most remote source, the Cagier

Riverin Central Africa, to the Mediterranean, people are affected to

some extent by the river or its water. With a few exceptions, the

water resources in the headwater areas of the system are not yet much

developed. The main development has taken place in the countries

situated in the semi-arid and arid zones such as Sudan and Egypt. The

upstream countries, however, are now considering Nile resource

development projects in their territories.

The hydrological characteristics vary greatly over the basin. Rainfall

in the headwater areas is abundant though seasonal. On the other hand,

from about Sudan the river runs through waterless land.

The river system has two main sources of water: the Ethiopian

highlands and the equatorial region around Lake Victoria. More than

60% of the river flow arriving in Egypt originates in the Ethiopian

highlands by way of the 'Sobat', Blue Nile, and 'Atbara' Rivers, with

the bulk of this water coming down during the summer. The rest of the

flow arrives from the White Nile, which has its most remote source in

Burundi. This source is a tributary, which enters Lake Victoria near

the ...

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...there is still the matter of

getting things back to normal, such as replacing fish electricity from

the Aswan Dam would have to be halted meaning electricity would have

to come in from elsewhere, probably at a great expense. These

developments should solve a great number of problems; the snails could

be cleared so the area would have less disease, and the silt that has

built up can be used. To stop these silt and snail problems from

arising again a large removable mesh could be installed in front of

the dam that can be raised out of the water with the silt and snails

stuck to it:

[IMAGE]

Although this may, or may not overcome some major problems it is clear

more if its own would arise, like the strength needed in the mesh, and

above all the cost, it is unlikely the Soviet Union will fund this

project.