The Aswan High Dam
The construction of the dam was begun in 1960 with assistance from the Soviet Union. The Dam is built of earth and rock and filled with a clay and concrete core. Having a clay and concrete core ensures that the dam is impermeable. 30,000 people worked day and night on the dam. When it was completed the dam was 11,811 feet long, 3,215 feet thick at the base, 364 feet tall and contains 18 times the amount of material used to build the Great Pyramid of Cheops. It also contains 12 hydroelectric generators that create 10 billion kilowatts of electricity every year. As a result of the dam a large reservoir was created, this is known as the Lake Nasser. This ‘lake’ is the largest artificial lake in the world being 310 miles in length. It was named Lake Nasser after the former president of Egypt, Gamal Abdul Nasser. Lake Nasser
There are many advantages of the Aswan High Dam. Lake Nasser itself became an important fishing site supplying food and employment for the local population. Employment was also created during the building of the dam. 30,000 people were employed bringing money to the local community. However, as a result of the creation of Lake Nasser 90,000 people were relocated. Many moved to Aswan but others moved out of the area entirely. Monuments and other important archaeological sites were either destroyed or relocated. At great cost the temple of Abul Simel was moved brick by brick to a new site.
The temple of Abul Simel being relocated
A high population growth rate is supported because agriculture and the manufacturing industry could expand. As a result of the dam crops can be grown all year round. The water stored can be used to provide irrigation during the dry months and since there is no risk from flooding the farmers can work their land at all times. Overall there was a 30% increase in the amount of cultivable land in Egypt and the water table for the Sahara was raised as far away as Algeria. However there was a large loss of agricultural land as a result of the creation of Lake Nasser. The manufacturing industry has grown in Egypt, as water is readily available and so is electricity. This growth creates employment opportunities and encourages industrialisation.
The water stored in Lake Nasser could be used as fresh, clean drinking water. However there has been a marked increase in the number of people suffering from schistomiasis, a parasitic disease associated with stagnant water. There were many deaths and illnesses as a result of this.
The dam has also made the River Nile much more navigable encouraging tourism to grow further up the river.
A major problem with the dam is that it prevents the transport of silt. This silt used to be deposited on the land every time the river flooded, creating very fertile topsoil. This no longer occurring and farmers have to use more and more fertilisers every year. This could prove to be a major problem in the future. The Nile delta is also shrinking, as there is no silt being deposited there. The silt gets blocked by the dam, meaning that the dam has to be regularly dredged. The Nile delta is being slowly eroded and there is no new material being deposited there. If the delta region disappears there will be a loss of a very important habitat. Many species of animal will migrate to other areas and possibly become extinct. Nile Delta
The groundwater and delta soils are becoming increasingly saline as a result of the dam. The flow of the Nile is not strong enough to keep the water from the Mediterranean from working its way up the Nile. The salt water infiltrates into the delta soils disrupting the wildlife and vegetation living there. Eventually this land will become sterile. If the salt water continues to make the groundwater saline there will be major problems for Egypt later on.
As a result of the construction of the Aswan High Dam there has been an increase in the risk of earthquakes around Lake Nasser. Introducing such large amounts of water has increased the pressure on the sedimentary rocks beneath and as a result increased the probability of earthquakes. An earthquake did occur near to Lake Nasser in 1981.
In conclusion the construction of the Aswan High Dam has had a major influence on Egyptian life, agriculture and environment. The construction of the dam has been a tremendous boost to Egyptian agriculture and has benefited industry by providing cheap electric power. The building of the dam has also had far-reaching consequences on the transport of silt and sediments. Although there are a large number of negative effects I think that Egypt has benefited from the building of the Aswan High Dam. When many other African countries suffered from famine during the 1970’s and 80’s Egypt went relatively unscathed. The development of agriculture prevented disaster and has encouraged rapid population growth. Agriculture could not have grown without the construction of the Aswan Dam.
