lake Nasser
lake Nasser Stretching south from Aswan nearly 350 miles (550 kilometers)
beyond the southern border of Egypt and into northern Sudan, Lake Nasser
is the huge freshwater reservoir formed by the construction of the High Dam at Aswan during the 1960s.
The High Dam replaced a smaller dam completed by the British colonial government
in 1902, which proved too small to control the flow of the river. The construction
of the dam began in 1960 as part of a major development initiative under President
Gamal Abdel Nasser after the 1954 Free Officers Revolution.
lake Nasser
The dam was intended to increase agricultural production and provide flood
protection throughout the Nile Valley, as well as provide access to electricity for many of Egypt’s villages.
The dam was controversial from the start because the rising waters of the lake forced the
displacement of over 100,000 Nubian people in Egypt and northern Sudan and threatened
to inundate many important monuments, including the Abu Simbel temples.
Regardless of the costs or benefits of the High Dam project, the dam stands
today as an impressive engineering marvel and the huge reservoir behind it provides
lake Nasser
a unique expanse of water in the arid climate of southern Egypt.
Lake Nasser has created a new economy based around fishing in its vast
waters and it has helped the development of tourism in Egypt’s south.
With the help of international organizations, many of the monuments
threatened by the rising waters were relocated to high ground along the
banks of the lake where tourists can easily visit them today by boat.
Although the displacement of the Nubian people remains a controversial political issue,
many of these people now live in and around Aswan, managing to keep their
unique culture alive with extra income from tourism.
lake Nasser
Lake Nasser provides a relaxing gateway to the south.
Lake Nasser Nile Cruise ships
carry visitors from just south of Aswan to visit the monuments along its banks,
including Philae Temple, Abu Simbel, Kalabsha Temple, Qasr Ibrim, and several others.
The waters of the lake are the only place in Egypt where one can still see the
infamous Nile crocodile since their populations have been depleted below the
dam and the starkly beautiful desert scenery along the banks provide
a perfect opportunity to relax during several days of cruising the historic sites of Ancient Nubia.
Fishing in Lake Nasser:
Since the construction of the dam, an entirely new attraction has developed
in the waters of Lake Nasser. The depth and size of the lake have allowed several
species of fish that live in the Nile system to thrive and grow to extraordinary sizes.
As a result, a nascent sports fishing industry has evolved where visitors come
for the chance to catch some of the biggest freshwater fish in the world. Outfitters
take anglers out on day trips, but longer excursions are more popular,
allowing the boats to reach remote areas to fish privately. Fishing is done from small boats, as well as from the shore.
Kalabsha Temple:
Located within view of the High Dam, Kalabsha Temple is often the first stop
for any cruise on Lake Nasser. It was moved to this spot from its original location
30 miles to the south after the construction of the dam.
lake Nasser
Construction of the temple began at the end of the Ptolemaic Dynasty and
actually completed under the rule of the Roman Emperor Augustus.
The result is an interesting combination of imagery that includes Egyptian
and Roman themes with images of Roman emperors and pharaohs worshipping
the Egyptian Gods. The temple was dedicated to the Nubian god Mandulis.
It has a large pylon, connected to the rest of the complex by a wall,
creating a closed space. There are stairs to the roof, offering a great view of the lake and back up to the High Dam.
Temple of Amada:
About 110 miles south of the High Dam, the Temple of Amada is the oldest
of the monuments around Lake Nasser. Dating back to the 18th dynasty of
the New Kingdom, the temple predates Ramses II and Abu Simbel by
around two hundred years; however, as is typical of the great pharaoh of Egypt,
Ramses’s mark and that of his son Merenptah can be found inside.
Qasr Ibrim:
It is a rocky island in the middle of Lake Nasser. This is the only monument around
the lake to have remained in its original location. Qasr Ibrim used to guard over
a thriving city, but the lake submerged most of the ruins. During the middle ages,
this area rose to prominence such that the most noticeable ruins visible on the island
are actually what remains of a great cathedral that once stood here.
The area inhabited until the mid-19th century when it fell into disuse.
