1. The Nile, Egypt
River Regulation

2. The Nile River River data Key concepts Irrigation
Discharge
Control of flow
Population and crops
Irrigation
Controlling the river

3. The Nile River River is longest in world: 6825 km Basin: 3 000 000 km2
Egypt is essentially arid: < 100 mm/yr
Nile provides 50  more water than rainfall
Flows through 8 countries

4. Nile River Basin

5. Discharge

6. Key Concepts
Nile River Q in Egypt, the only major source of surface water in that country, is derived from P in tropical latitudes influenced by the ITCZ (White Nile) and monsoon P in Ethiopia (Blue Nile)
All Nile Q is now controlled by storage behind dams (Egypt and Sudan) and used primarily for irrigation
Food production in Egypt is not sufficient to meet domestic demand, even with total control of the Nile
Source:

7. Precipitation Source of the Blue Nile
Monsoonal rains can bring a flood
(5 months < 50 mm)
Source of the White Nile
Equatorial consistent rainfall
Provides Nile base flow
All months over 50 mm

8. Crop Areas in Egypt

9. Population

10. Crop Land Area

11. Remote Sensing

12. Irrigation Systems in Egypt
Up to early 19th century: Basin Irrigation
one crop per year following monsoon flooding (peak flood levels in Aug/Sept)
During 19th century: Barrage and Irrigation Canal Construction
permit irrigation during low river stage and extend crops to summer months preceding flood - driving force was cotton crop (summer crop)
Early 20th century: Storage Dam at Aswan
extended area under summer cotton crop
level of Dam raised in 1930s and more barrage construction: maximum storage capacity
~2 months of "mean" discharge
Mid 20th century: Beginning of Tile Drainage and Drainage Canal Network
driving force was rising water table and need to extend crops into areas closer to sea level at margins of Delta
~1960: Initial Drainage Pump Stations
Late 1960's: Completion of High Dam at Aswan and Large Expansion of Drainage Pump Stations
permits continuous cropping of entire Nile Delta
up to 3 crops/year depending on rotation
Current: Collection of Drainage Water for Reuse, Especially in Northern Sinai.
Future: Sudd Bypass Canal in Sudan

13. Aswan High Dam
Opened 1971: 111 m high, 3820 m long, 980 m thick at base, 40 m thick at top
Reservoir (Lake Nasser) surface area: 5000 km2, volume of 164 km3, 270 km long
people resettled, 22 ancient temples relocated
Series of locks control the river height
Irrigation canals

14. Discharge Change

15. Dam Advantages Power Supply: 64% of Egypt’s electricity
Flood and drought protection: regulation
Food production: irrigation allowed former desert to be cultivated (doubled area); 3 crops/year means less import; cash crops
Transport: locks allow trade and cruise ships
Lake Nasser fishing industry: bass, catfish, carp

16. Dam Disadvantages
Water loss: surface area & heat cause huge evaporation
Silt: suspended silt held back – 2% of former loads passes – loss of fertilising potential, crop yields reduced; also deposit reduces Lake Nasser capacity – 100 yr to be full
Fishing industry: nutrients from silt entering Mediterranean no longer reaches sea – sardine, mackerel, shrimp and lobster industries near mouth are devastated – jobs, economic loss and protein source lost
Salinity and waterlogging: from extensive irrigation
Brick industry: silt reduction means topsoil must be used
Erosion: silt free/clear water erodes riverbed and delta
Earthquakes: possible trigger is weight of Lake Nasser water
Disease: water-related diseases increased – schistosomiasis, Bilharzia and malaria near irrigation canals – still water promotes mosquitoes breeding

17. References
Kleeman, G (ed.) 2000, A Geography of Global Interactions 1, Reed International Books, Sydney, pp 87-96