1. Geography of Ancient Egypt

5. Nile River 4,000 miles long Two Nile Rivers: White and Blue Niles in Ethiopia and Central Africa Flow affected by “Cataracts”-speed up the flow by narrowing

6. Nile River Floods annually between June and October-average flood depth of 45 feet Flood leaves rich deposits of soil on the banks Nickname: “Gift of the Nile

7. Nile River Fertile strip on average only 12 miles Only major river which flows northward Divides Egypt into: –Southern part = “Upper Egypt” –Northern part = “Lower Egypt”

8. Nile River Egyptians learned to build sophisticated irrigation systems to maximize the use of the Nile Mouth of the Nile forms a wide delta as it enters the Mediterranean Sea

9. Geography of Ancient Egypt

10. NORTH Delta - the fan-shaped area at the mouth or lower end of a river formed by eroded material that has been carried downstream and dropped in quantities larger than can be carried off by tides or currents Open access to Lower Egypt

11. Geography of Ancient Egypt

13. WEST Northern Sahara Desert No passage

14. Geography of Ancient Egypt

15. EAST Sinai Peninsula Desert Passable only along the coast

16. Geography of Ancient Egypt SOUTHEAST Red Sea Trade passage

17. Geography of Ancient Egypt SOUTH Eastern Sahara Desert Nubia 6 stages of cataracts or rapids

18. Geography of Ancient Egypt Cataracts 6 locations Stop river travel

19. Geography of Ancient Egypt

30. Topography Land has ample stone for building large monuments No wood or other building products Lower Egypt was a savannah teeming with wild animals

31. Climate of Egypt Frost-free climate allowing for year round farming Receives only ½ inch of rain per year on the average Temperatures are hot, up to 140 degrees in the summer

32. Climate of Egypt Non-existent humidity = preservation of artifacts Winds blow to the south from the Mediterranean assisting in travel up the river

33. Geography of Ancient Egypt