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Nile Valley

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Located in Africa is the longest river on earth. It measures 4,132 miles and is called the Nile River. The word "Nile" originated with a Greek work, Neilos, and also an Egyptian word that means "valley" or "great river." In ancient Egypt, the river was called "Ar" or "Aur" which means black. This name stood for the rich, black soil that was a result of the flood waters that would nourish the soil along the banks of the Nile. Although the Nile River is usually associated with the country of Egypt, only 22% of the river actually runs through the country.

Many infamous people have traveled along the waters of the Nile River. This includes Antony and Cleopatra, Nefertiti, Alexander the Great, Ramses II, King Tut and Caesar. There are many amazing sites along the way, including Aswan, Luxor, Esna, Kom Ombo and Edfu.

The river winds its way through the deserts of Egypt, creating a green fertile valley. The banks of the Nile are where the early Egyptians lived and farmed. They used the soil in to produce food for themselves and their livestock. In fact, ancient Egypt could not have existed without the resources they gained from the River Nile. Because of the desert and lack of rainfall, the river became a key component to their survival.

Between the months of June and September every year, the Ethiopian highlands produce heavy summer rains. The Egyptians used the word "akhet" to describe the flooding, which translated means inundation. This would send a torrent of water onto the banks of the Nile. The floods would leave rich thick mud, also called black silt, that was especially fertile soil for growing a harvest for the Egyptians. Until the Aswan Dam was built in 1960, the floods were uncontrolled. This was especially helpful when the huge flood came in 1970.

Growing along the banks of the Nile River were reeds, also called papyrus. The English word "paper" comes from the word "papyrus." This was an Egyptian word that meant "that which belongs to the house," referring to the bureaucracy of ancient Egypt. These reeds were used by the Egyptians to make mattresses, chairs, boats, mats, sandals and baskets. Paper, however, was found to be the important use of the plant leaves. As the Egyptians moved into the written word, they found papyrus to be a better medium than stone. Papyrus is thin, strong, easy to carry, durable and light weight. It may have been used as early as 4,000 BC and was a medium for Egyptian writing for thousands of years.

The Egyptians also found the River Nile to be a source of food. Birds would fly close to the edge of the waters and fish were abundant in the river. Nourishment was provided by both of these. The Nile River was an excellent trade route for the Egyptians. This helped in the building of the pyramids, which were close to the banks of the Nile. Huge granite stones for the pyramids would be transported from Aswan via the Nile. It was convenient to just build the pyramids close to the water.

Some people don't know that a trip down the Nile River is a part of many Egyptian vacation packages. In Cairo, your tour will begin with a warm welcome from your tour representative. You will most likely stay the night in a hotel in Cairo. A typical day on an Egyptian cruise would include visiting the pyramids, the sphinx, and an Egyptian museum.

On your Egyptian tour, you will probably take a day to go on a cruise down the Nile River. Lunch would be served on board and you would have the opportunity to visit the west bank, which includes the temple of Hatshepsut and also the Valley of the Kings and Queens. As you travel down the River Nile, the east bank would allow you to see the Luxor and Karnak Temples. You usually eat dinner on board and enjoy live entertainment. It's common to spend the night aboard the ship so that you can continue on your Nile River adventure the next day.

Still traveling along the Nile, you would visit the Temple of Horus in Edfu, Kom Ombo and the Komombo Temple. You would also get to visit the temple of Karnak and visit the High Dam, the Old Dam and the Granite Quarries. A trip down the Nile will show you these sites and many more.

Plan ahead for your Nile River adventure so you can schedule your visit between the months of October and March. The weather is pleasantly cooler and the locks of the river are open. Of course, the water level of the Nile River can affect the cruise and sightseeing tours as well. A journey down the Nile River is a lifetime memory that is worth every penny and every second that you spend.