The Nile River flows from south to north through eastern Africa. It begins in the rivers that flow into Lake Victoria (located in modern-day Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya), and empties into the Mediterranean Sea more than 6,600 kilometers to the north, making it one of the longest rivers in the world. The Nile River was critical to the development of ancient Egypt. In addition to Egypt, the Nile runs through or along the border of Burundi, Tanzania, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.
For thousands of years, much of Egypt’s food has been grown in the Nile delta region. Ancient Egyptians developed irrigation methods to increase the amount of land they could use for crops and support an increasing population. The Nile River delta was also an ideal growing location for the papyrus (纸莎草) plant. Ancient Egyptians used the papyrus plant in many ways, such as making cloth, boxes, and rope, but by far its most important use was in making paper. Besides using the river’s natural resources for themselves and trading them with others, early Egyptians also used the river for bathing, drinking, recreation, and transportation.
Today, 95 percent of Egyptians live within a few kilometers of the Nile. Canals bring water from the Nile to irrigate farms and support cities. The Nile supports agriculture and fishing. The Nile also has served as an important transportation route for thousands of years. Today, some residents of Cairo have begun using private speed boats, or water taxis, to avoid crowded streets. Dams, such as the Aswân High Dam in Egypt, have been built to help to control the river and provide a source of hydroelectric (水力发电的) power.
However, the silt and sediment (淤泥和沉积物) that used to flow north are now building up behind the dam instead. In addition, routine annual flooding no longer occurs along parts of the Nile. These floods were necessary to flush the water of human and agricultural waste. As a result, the water is becoming more polluted.
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