Although walking the grounds of the temples of Ancient Egypt was amazing in itself, taking the cruise on The Nile River and witnessing how today's Egyptians have continued traditions of their ancestors was an adventure itself.  I created this special "In The Field" page dedicated to the people of The Nile.

 

The Nile River is the longest river in the world.  The Nile flows for approximately 4,000 miles (6,800 kilometers) north through Northeastern Africa and empties into the Mediterranean Sea.  Its source begins in the rivers that flow into Lake Victoria on the borders of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

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The Nile River was significant to the development of the Ancient Egyptian Civilization. The river was rich in nutrients due to the large amount of silt deposits it contained.  As the river flooded in ancient times, those deposits would settle in the soil along the shores of The Nile which provided fertile land on which to plant and farm various fruits, vegetables, trees, and grains, as well as to raise cattle for meat.  The fertile soil also provided perfect conditions to grow papyrus, which the Egyptians used to make paper.

 

The Nile also provided a means of transportation from the southern reaches of the region to the north, where most of the population lived.  The river was used to barge crops and cattle from the south, as well as stone from the many quarries that could be found in the region.  Today, the Nile River system is still used to transport goods and for agriculture.  A series of dams throughout the river system have been constructed to control flooding and allow easy passage of larger barges and ships. However, the locals of the region can be seen using skiffs loaded with crops (such as alfalfa, sugarcane, and vegetables) to traverse the river to bring goods to processors and markets.