Cultural, historical, adventure, and custom customized trips are just a few of the tours that Deluxe trips offer in Egypt and Jordan.
The High Dam at Aswan, Egypt's most impressive 20th-century engineering feat, soaringly spans the Nile River at Aswan, which is one of Egypt's richest cities in history and natural beauty. overshadowed by Egypt's ancient monuments, the High Dam is a symbolic wonder that represents modern Egypt's commitment to development, sustainability, and control of its most valuable asset—the Nile.
Regardless of your interests in engineering, history, or going to Egypt's iconic landmarks, the Aswan High Dam is one place you would not want to miss.
The idea of damming the Nile River existed since ancient times. However, the dream became a reality in the 20th century when Egypt under the leadership of President Gamal Abdel Nasser sought to build a dam that would regulate the flow of the river, prevent flooding, and provide water and electricity to millions of individuals.
Work on the project began in 1960 and was finished in 1970, with immense help from the Soviet Union. The High Dam replaced the more older Aswan Low Dam, which had been constructed by the British in 1902 but was insufficient to serve the needs of growing Egypt.
Before the building of the High Dam, the flooding of the Nile was a blessing and a curse. It provided fertile silt to agriculture, but also caused extensive damage when floods were heavy. Drought seasons, on the other hand, caused shortages of water and crop failure.
The objectives of the High Dam were:
To control yearly flooding
To store water for agriculture and domestic use
To generate hydroelectric power
To permit year-round irrigation
To make industrial development possible
The Aswan High Dam stretches along nearly 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) and is 111 meters high. As planned, it is a rock-fill dam with a clay core and was constructed using over 43 million cubic meters of material. The dam created Lake Nasser, one of the world's largest artificial lakes and stretches over 500 kilometers up into northern Sudan.
The power station of the dam generates about 2.1 gigawatts of electricity, generating a significant portion of Egypt's power and facilitating rural development.
One of the most astonishing side effects of the High Dam is the formation of Lake Nasser, a reservoir named after Egyptian President Gamal Abdul Nasser, who initiated the project. It is an important water reservoir which helps provide Egypt's agriculture output even in a low-rainfall year.
The lake has also emerged as a center of tourism and sport fishing, and is surrounded by desert landscape and endangered flora and fauna, and is a best-kept secret for those who love nature.
Control of floods: Protected Egypt from devastating Nile floods
Irrigation: Made multi-season cropping possible in thousands of acres
Electricity: Encouraged clean energy to millions
Water reservoir: Allows Egypt to weather long droughts
Navigation: Improved round-the-year river traffic for trade and tourism
Though the dam is an engineering wonder, it has not been controversy-free. Construction of the dam led to:
Displacement of Nubian communities
Relocation of old temples, such as Abu Simbel, to avoid submersion
Decline of fertile silt downstream, which requires artificial fertilizers
Some ecological imbalances in the delta area
All this, however, has well more than been offset by the economic and social benefits to modern Egypt.
The dam is a favorite stop along most Aswan day tours and is typically included in Nile Cruise packages. When you visit, you'll enjoy:
Panoramic views of Lake Nasser
A look at one of Egypt's recent accomplishments
A chance to combine your visit with local attractions like the Philae Temple and Unfinished Obelisk
Most Aswan Day Tours or Nile Cruises arrange visits to the dam with a knowledgeable guide who can retell its fascinating story.
Should you wish to make the most of your vacation, join your tour to the High Dam with these neighboring experiences:
These carefully designed experiences allow you to experience ancient and modern marvels in a single travel.
Aswan High Dam is not just a gargantuan concrete structure — it's a symbol of Egypt's advancement and power. While the world oozes over Egypt's ancient accomplishment, let's not forget its more modern engineering feats. A visit to this magnificent building is a humbling reminder of how the Nile remains Egyptian life — from pharaohs to today.
Discover now our answers to the most common questions that may come to your mind about tourism and trips to Egypt
Cultural, historical, adventure, and custom customized trips are just a few of the tours that Deluxe trips offer in Egypt and Jordan.
The Dead Sea, Petra in Jordan, the Pyramids of Giza, Luxor's historic temples, and many other famous sites can be expected to be explored with Deluxe Tours.
offer a hassle-free holiday, Deluxe Tours' packages generally include lodging, transport, meals, guided tours with experienced local experts, and entry fees to attractions.
Spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) offer the finest weather for sightseeing and outdoor activities, making those months the best times to visit Egypt and Jordan.
These two countries are close by, only a 1.5-hour flight apart, and when combined, offer a variety of distinctive experiences. We advise you to spend at least 12 days visiting both countries for a truly unforgettable experience
Combining the eclipse viewing with visits to historic sites like the Pyramids of Giza, the Valley of the Kings, and a Nile River cruise are highly recommended.
