Gift of the Nile The Geography of the Nile Chapter 7 Page

The waters of the Nile gave birth to the pharaonic kingdom of ancient Egypt. The Nile is longest river in the world flows north from the heart of Africa to the Mediterranean Sea. Its flood plain was an oasis, a magnet for life -- human, plant and animal. Humans were drawn there because they could grow crops and settle into permanent villages. The annual flooding of the Nile deposited nutrient rich silt on the land, creating all the ingredients needed to support life and the growth of a great civilization. The Nile River

Location: The Nile is located in Northern Africa and runs through Egypt, where it’s mouth is located. Size: The Nile River stretches 3470 miles Interesting Facts: The Nile River is the longest river in the world. The Nile River

The Land In ancient times, the Egyptians called the desert the "red land" The flood plain around the Nile River was called the "black land". These colors reflect the fact that the desert sands have a reddish color and the land around the Nile turned black when the annual flood waters receded.

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. Nile Valley Sunbird wildebeest ibis Animals of the Nile

Climate of Egypt Very dry, there is almost no rainfall on a regular basis The people depend on the annual summer floods of the Nile River for water. The floods begin in June and end in October. Daytime temperatures may reach nearly 130° F, and temperatures as high as 170° F have been recorded. Rainstorms in the desert are uncommon and unpredictable—they may be decades apart. Egypt's winds, in contrast, are predictable. They sweep across the land from the north, bringing cooling breezes from the Mediterranean. In the desert, the wind can lift sand up to 6 feet from the ground, creating a shifting, billowing layer above the land.

Sand Storm