The Nile is a river located in Africa. It is the longest river on earth at a length of 4,132 miles. The word "Nile" comes from the Greek word "Neilos" and an Egyptian word that means "great river" or "valley." The Ancient Egyptians called the river Ar or Aur which means "black," and was so named because of the black soil that resulted from the floods. It is also referred to as the River Nile sometimes. Most people think of the Nile River as being associated with Egypt. However, only 22% of the Nile's course runs through Egypt.
Throughout history, many famous people traveled along the waters of the Nile River. This includes Antony and Cleopatra, Nefertiti, Alexander the Great, Ramses II, King Tut and Caesar. There are many amazing sites along the way, including Aswan, Luxor, Esna, Kom Ombo and Edfu.
The river winds its way through the deserts of Egypt, creating a green fertile valley. The banks of the Nile are where the early Egyptians lived and farmed. They used the soil in to produce food for themselves and their livestock. In fact, ancient Egypt could not have existed without the resources they gained from the River Nile. Because of the desert and lack of rainfall, the river became a key component to their survival.
The Ethiopian highlands produced heavy summer rains every year between June and September. The Egyptians used the word "akhet" to describe the flooding, which translated means inundation. This would send a torrent of water onto the banks of the Nile. The floods would leave rich thick mud, also called black silt, that was especially fertile soil for growing a harvest for the Egyptians. Until the Aswan Dam was built in 1960, the floods were uncontrolled. This helped tremendously when the 1970 flood hit.
Growing along the banks of the Nile River were reeds, also called papyrus. The English word "paper" comes from the word "papyrus." This was an Egyptian word that meant "that which belongs to the house," referring to the bureaucracy of ancient Egypt. These reeds were used by the Egyptians to make mattresses, chairs, boats, mats, sandals and baskets. The most important use, however, was for paper. As the Egyptians moved into the written word, they found papyrus to be a better medium than stone. Papyrus is thin, strong, easy to carry, durable and light weight. It may have been used as early as 4,000 BC and was a medium for Egyptian writing for thousands of years.
The Egyptians also found the River Nile to be a source of food. Birds would fly close to the edge of the waters and fish were abundant in the river. These both provided nourishment. They also used the waters of the Nile to travel in order to trade with other countries. This was helpful in the building of the pyramids, which were built close to the Nile's banks. They would transport the huge granite stones from Aswan down the Nile River. It was convenient to just build the pyramids close to the water.
Some people don't know that a trip down the Nile River is a part of many Egyptian vacation packages. In Cairo, your tour will begin with a warm welcome from your tour representative. You will most likely stay the night in a hotel in Cairo. A typical day on an Egyptian cruise would include visiting the pyramids, the sphinx, and an Egyptian museum.
On your Egyptian tour, you will probably take a day to go on a cruise down the Nile River. Lunch would be served on board and you would have the opportunity to visit the west bank, which includes the temple of Hatshepsut and also the Valley of the Kings and Queens. As you travel down the River Nile, the east bank would allow you to see the Luxor and Karnak Temples. Dinner would be served on board and entertainment would be provided. Oftentimes, you will even spend the night on board the ship in Luxor.
Still traveling along the Nile, you would visit the Temple of Horus in Edfu, Kom Ombo and the Komombo Temple. You would also get to visit the temple of Karnak and visit the High Dam, the Old Dam and the Granite Quarries. All of these amazing sites can be visited by a trip down the Nile River.
Plan ahead for your Nile River adventure so you can schedule your visit between the months of October and March. The weather is pleasantly cooler and the locks of the river are open. Of course, the water level of the Nile River can affect the cruise and sightseeing tours as well. All in all, however, a trip down the Nile River is an adventure of a lifetime that is well worth the time and money.
Author Resource:-
Doesn't a journey down the Nile River sound thrilling? Egyptian travel packages often include Nile cruises. You will get to visit ancient Egyptians quarries, temples and pyramids while cruising down the Nile. Visit our website today to learn how to book your trip to the Nile River!
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