Nile Activity
Objective:
Your objective is to read, view, and interact with all components on the linked site. From here you will need to record the information on your Nile Map and note sheet.
Why the Nile?
"The River Nile is in Africa. It originates in Burundi, south of the equator, and flows northward through northeastern Africa, eventually flowing through Egypt and finally draining into the Mediterranean Sea.
Lake Victoria, Africa's biggest lake, is generally thought of as the source of the River Nile. On the northern edge of the lake, water pours over a waterfall, known as Ripon Falls, into a narrow opening which some people believe is the beginning of the River Nile.
Two rivers flow into the Nile, the Blue and the White Nile. The River Nile is formed from the White Nile, which originates at Lake Victoria and the Blue Nile, which originates at Lake Tana in Ethiopia. These rivers meet in Sudan and then go on their long journey northwards towards the sea.
The White Nile is a lot bigger than the Blue Nile, but because of losses along the way the it only contributes about 15% to the flow of the combined Nile. The Blue Nile, rising in Ethiopia, contributes about 85% to the flow of the Nile that passes through Egypt to the Mediterranean.
Most Egyptians lived near the Nile as it provided water, food, transportation and excellent soil for growing food."
Works Cited:
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/egypt/nile.htm
Dog, et al. “Nile River Facts.” Africa Facts, 16 Nov. 2015, africa-facts.org/nile-river-facts/.
Hoyt, Alia. “How the Nile River Works.” How the Nile River Works | HowStuffWorks, HowStuffWorks, 7 Apr. 2008, adventure.howstuffworks.com/nile-river.htm.
Pyramids, www.ancientegypt.co.uk/pyramids/home.html.
The Flow
"What we do know for sure is that it runs south to north through nine African countries: Uganda, Sudan, Egypt, Zaire, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Burundi. Running south to north may seem backward to many people, but the flow of a body of water has nothing to do with geographical orientation. Rather, rivers simply run from high ground to lower ground. High ground in Africa just happens to be in the south, low ground in the north. The Amazon River runs neck-and-neck with the Nile in terms of length, trading the title of world's longest river. A 2007 study put the Amazon in first at 4,225 miles (6,800 kilometers), about 65 miles (105 kilometers) longer than the Nile [source: National Geographic]."
Lake Victoria, Africa’s main lake, is generally is known as the source of the River Nile. On the northern edge of this lake, water pours over a waterfall, known as the Ripon Falls; into a narrow opening which many people believe is the beginning of the River Nile."
Works Cited:
Dog, et al. “Nile River Facts.” Africa Facts, 16 Nov. 2015, africa-facts.org/nile-river-facts/.
Hoyt, Alia. “How the Nile River Works.” How the Nile River Works | HowStuffWorks, HowStuffWorks, 7 Apr. 2008, adventure.howstuffworks.com/nile-river.htm.
Pyramids, www.ancientegypt.co.uk/pyramids/home.html.
Lake Victoria, Africa’s main lake, is generally is known as the source of the River Nile. On the northern edge of this lake, water pours over a waterfall, known as the Ripon Falls; into a narrow opening which many people believe is the beginning of the River Nile."
Works Cited:
Dog, et al. “Nile River Facts.” Africa Facts, 16 Nov. 2015, africa-facts.org/nile-river-facts/.
Hoyt, Alia. “How the Nile River Works.” How the Nile River Works | HowStuffWorks, HowStuffWorks, 7 Apr. 2008, adventure.howstuffworks.com/nile-river.htm.
Pyramids, www.ancientegypt.co.uk/pyramids/home.html.
Map
Landforms are natural features on the earth. Maps are great resources to explore the landforms and terrains that surround an area. Use the map below to answer several questions regarding the Nile.
Ancient Egypt Maps, www.ancient-egypt-online.com/ancient-egypt-maps.html.
Life on the Nile
Life was bustling around the Nile, on an average day you could find quite the variety of animals enjoying life on the river. "Numerous animals live close by the river which include Nile crocodiles, hippopotamus, frogs, Nile monitors, turtles, tortoises, wildebeest, mongooses, baboons, and over more than 200 species of birds."
"Egypt is home to a wide variety of animals and plants, including jackals, gazelles, crocodiles, and cobras. The best places to see Egypt's wildlife are in its more than 20 protected regions, which include oases, deserts, mountains, coastal areas, river islands, and wetlands.
Egyptians have always been close to the natural world. The ancient Egyptians left paintings and carvings of large animals like elephants, hippos, leopards, and cheetahs. These animals were once common in Egypt, but they are now rare or extinct because of hunting and habitat loss."
"There are about eighty pyramids known today from ancient Egypt. The three largest and best-preserved of these were built at Giza at the beginning of the Old Kingdom. The most well-known of these pyramids was built for the pharaoh Khufu. It is known as the 'Great Pyramid'."
Source:
Dog, et al. “Nile River Facts.” Africa Facts, 16 Nov. 2015, africa-facts.org/nile-river-facts/.
Javarman, Dreamstime Photograph by, et al. “Egypt Country Profile - National Geographic Kids.” Kids' Games, Animals, Photos, Stories, and More, 21 Mar. 2014, kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/egypt/#egypt-pyramids.jpg.
"Egypt is home to a wide variety of animals and plants, including jackals, gazelles, crocodiles, and cobras. The best places to see Egypt's wildlife are in its more than 20 protected regions, which include oases, deserts, mountains, coastal areas, river islands, and wetlands.
Egyptians have always been close to the natural world. The ancient Egyptians left paintings and carvings of large animals like elephants, hippos, leopards, and cheetahs. These animals were once common in Egypt, but they are now rare or extinct because of hunting and habitat loss."
"There are about eighty pyramids known today from ancient Egypt. The three largest and best-preserved of these were built at Giza at the beginning of the Old Kingdom. The most well-known of these pyramids was built for the pharaoh Khufu. It is known as the 'Great Pyramid'."
Source:
Dog, et al. “Nile River Facts.” Africa Facts, 16 Nov. 2015, africa-facts.org/nile-river-facts/.
Javarman, Dreamstime Photograph by, et al. “Egypt Country Profile - National Geographic Kids.” Kids' Games, Animals, Photos, Stories, and More, 21 Mar. 2014, kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/egypt/#egypt-pyramids.jpg.