The High Dam in Aswan Egypt

Aswan High Dam, a grand dam that collects water from the Nile River is situated on the northern edge between Egypt and Sudan.
The dam's construction which is said to have cost about a billion dollars was officially opened in 1971 though its construction was completed in 1970. 
The Aswan High Dam has a 132km³ reservoir that can hold enough water to irrigate about 33,600km² of land. It meets the irrigation demands of Egypt and even Sudan while also preventing flooding, enhancing the Nile navigation, and producing electricity.

Before the construction of the Aswan High Dam, there was an old dam. The old dam however could not put a stop to the yearly Nile flooding which flowed unhindered from its East African drainage area down the valley. The rich soil along the floodway and delta was annually enhanced by the high water with natural nutrients provided by the floods. This has made the Nile valley excellent for agriculture since ancient eras. This natural flooding however wasn't static as years that saw high water meant destroyed crops and on the other hand, years that saw low water may mean severe drought and famine. 
The need and capability to entirely control flooding then emerged as Egypt's population and technological advancements progressed, protecting and giving support to farmland and economically significant cotton crop. The High Dam's expanded reservoir is certainly a solution that controlled the flood. 
 

Customize your trip to Aswan in the Land of the Pharos!

Although the first known attempt to construct a dam close to Aswan was in the 11th century, the British back in 1898, started the building of the first dam (low dam) across the Nile River. The construction was completed by 1902, and on December 10th of the same year, it was officially opened.

As of 1946, the Low Dam was at risk of being nearly destroyed. And Adrian Daninos, a Greek-Egyptian started working on a plan for a new Aswan Dam in 1952, however, king Farouk's administration gave no attention to Daninos' proposal. In the place of his plan, the Nile valley plan of a British hydrologist was preferred. The British hydrologist, Harold Edwin Hurst advocated storing water in Ethiopia and Sudan where evaporation is significantly lower. 
However, following the ousting of the monarchy, the Egyptian perspective dramatically shifted. The Free officers who spearheaded the ousting believed that storing the Nile waters was necessary for the favor of political purposes and in a matter of months, Daninos' plan was approved. After many disputes and incidents, the construction of the High Dam finally commenced in 1960.

The Aswan High Dam which is regarded as one of the most significant Egyptian sources of water and electricity measures 3,830 meters in length, 111 meters in height, and 980 meters in width. This grand dam features a hydroelectric plant with six turbines that can produce 2.1 million kilowatts. 
In the dam are 180 sluice gates that control the water flow to prevent flooding.  A workforce of around 34 thousand people and building materials of 44 million cubic meters completed the construction of the Dam.
 

Here are some of the many impacts of Aswan High Dam which have earned it great fame.

Egyptians Now Have The Flood Under Control thanks to the High Dam. The dam now employs the floodwater to feed thousands of acres while enhancing navigation around Aswan and providing the nation with electricity at large. The dam freed Egypt of drought while irrigating the thousands of lands that grow crops such as wheat, rice, sugarcane, and cotton.

Due to the increased economic activity and standard of living brought about by the High Dam, the Nation now enjoys peace and stability.

About 50 percent of the power supply in all of Egypt is produced by the dam.
 

Before visiting the dam you should know about other attractions and interesting things near the High Dam. Including more activities is one way to make your visit packed with fun.

Nubian Museum 
The Nubian museum features records and artifacts that revive the significant portion of the Nubian culture that went extinct because of the flood. Visiting this museum is a top activity when in Aswan.

Elephantine Island is the biggest island around Aswan that you should definitely visit.  
You might want to do some photography as you visit the island's ancient villages that have a great allure.

Unfinished Obelisk 
Aswan houses many ancient sites and monuments that are so worth seeing. Although there are many granite quarries around Aswan, the Unfinished Obelisk is quite special. It also offers a glimpse into the methods used in ancient Egyptian architecture.

The Nilometer, an ancient Egyptian measuring device is another well-known attraction in Aswan. The Nile's height was measured using the nilometer.

The splendor of the dam is such a sight to behold! So don't forget to enjoy the beauty.  From the edge of the dam to the dam's wall take a stroll and take in the sight. 
 

Consider the weather when planning to visit the Aswan High Dam as it gets hot in Aswan. It's quite very got from June to August with highs of 42⁰. And in December and January, it gets cold with the weather reaching 10⁰. Also, Aswan is quite a dry place as rain rarely falls. So an umbrella is not a necessity.