General Background
by Kuznetsov_Sergey
The town Aswan is situated in Upper Egypt north below the First Nile Cataract on the east bank of the Nile, partly on low ground and partly on a hill. Aswan is the capital of Egypt's most southerly governorate and the terminus of the railroad line along the Nile Valley. As a result of the construction of the High Dam farther up the valley Aswan is now becoming one of the country's principal industrial centers.
At Aswan the Nile divides into several arms, separated by large granite rocks and islands, in particular the island of Elephantine.
The best time to visit Aswan is winter (December-February).
Aswan Dam
by miman
Without impoundment the River Nile would flood each year during summer, as waters from East Africa flowed down the river. These floods brought nutrients and minerals that made the soil around the Nile fertile and ideal for farming. As the population along the river grew, there came a need to control the flood waters to protect farmland and cotton fields. In a high-water year, the whole crop may be entirely wiped out, while in a low-water year there was widespread drought and famine. The aim of this water project was to prevent the river's flooding, generate electricity and provide water for agriculture.The Aswan High Dam is 3,600 m in length, 980 m wide at the base, 40 m wide at the crest and 111 m tall. It contains 43 million m³ of material. At maximum, 11,000 m³ of water can pass through the dam every second. There are further emergency spillways for an extra 5000 m³ per second and the Toshka Canal links the reservoir to the Toshka Depression. The reservoir, named Lake Nasser, is 480 km long and 16 km at its widest with a surface area of 6,000 km² and holds 150 to 165 km³.
With hydroelectric output of 2.1 gigawatts, the dam powers twelve generators each rated at 175 megawatts. Power generation began in 1967. When the dam first reached peak output it produced around half of Egypt's entire electricity production (about 15% by 1998) and allowed for the connection of most Egyptian villages to electricity for the first time. The effects of dangerous floods in 1964 and 1973 and of threatening droughts in 1972–73 and 1983–84 were mitigated. A new fishing industry has been created around Lake Nasser, though it is struggling due to its distance from any significant markets.
Drinking Water
by Rachelynn
It's not safe to drink from the tap. You can buy bottled mineral water, which is very much available everywhere in shops and hotels.
It cost about 6EP to 10 EP for one large bottle in hotels, and 2EP if you buy from shops.
The brands that i took were Nestle and Baraka.
Some of my tour mates boiled the mineral water but i didn't. It's not really necessary.
View at Elephantine and westbank
by sachara
At the end of the afternoon, after visiting many ''must see'' places, we sat in the garden of the New Cataract Hotel and had a splendid view at the southern end of Elephantine, said to be the most scenic part of the Nile, and the westbank with the silhouette mausoleum of Aga Khan.
We were happy that we were allowed to use this beautifull neughbouring garden. We were at the Kalabsha Hotel.
Marketing Meeting
by kenmerk
The local vendors huddle to discuss the days sales strategies:
"OK guys, this is what we are gonna do: We buy low and sell high.... And just look what's a coming, a whole fleet of dem tour buses just full of them Euro-packing Teutonic tourists...."
The hawkers in Aswan can be a bit pushy, though they don't hold a candle to the ones in Luxor... (The undisputed top hassle location on the Egyptian Tourist circuit...)
The Mirage! dangerously beautiful!
The River Nile & Hundreds of Fellucas!
Nile at Dawn.
Unfinished Obelisk shopping complex.
