The River Nile Flashcards
How many countries does the River Nile pass through, and what percentage of Africa does its drainage basin cover?
Countries: The Nile passes through 11 countries.
Coverage: Its drainage basin covers 10% of Africa.
What is the length of the River Nile, and where does it terminate?
Length: The river is 4100 miles long.
Termination: It finishes in the Mediterranean Sea.
Which two tributaries merge in Khartoum to form the Nile, and what percentage of the Nile’s water comes from the Blue Nile?
Tributaries: The Blue and White Nile merge in Khartoum.
Blue Nile Contribution: 60% of the Nile is created by the Blue Nile.
What percentage of the Nile’s water comes from Ethiopia?
85% of the water comes from Ethiopia.
When did the first humans settle on the banks of the Nile, and what percentage of Egyptians live near its banks today?
The first humans settled on the banks of the Nile in 6000 BC.
Population
Today, 95% of Egyptians live within a few miles of the banks.
What event celebrates the flooding of the Nile, and how many people does the river provide freshwater to?
There is a two-week holiday called Wafaa an-Nil, celebrating the flooding of the Nile.
The Nile provides freshwater to 4 million people.
What was the population growth of Egypt from 45 to 85 million, and what vulnerability do many countries around the Nile face?
Egypt’s population grew from 45 to 85 million.
Many countries around the Nile are vulnerable; for example, nearly half of Rwanda’s population is under 14, and Tanzania is one of the poorest countries on earth.
What significant agreement regarding the Nile was made between Egypt and the UK in 1929?
The 1929 Nile Agreement granted significant usage rights to Egypt and the UK (the colonial power in Sudan at the time), ignoring the needs of the other Nile states. Egypt was granted a veto power on the construction of projects that could limit the flow of the Nile and its tributaries.
What initiatives aimed at enhancing cooperation were undertaken by Nile states in 1999 and 2010?
In 1999, all Nile states (except Eritrea) signed the Nile Basin Initiative. In May 2010, six Nile states (excluding Egypt and Sudan) signed the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA).
What tensions arose regarding the Grand Renaissance Dam in Ethiopia, and what agreement was reached in March 2015?
Due to heavy reliance on the Nile and limited groundwater stores, Egypt threatened to use military force to stop the building of the Grand Renaissance Dam in Ethiopia in 2011.
In March 2015, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan signed an agreement on the development of the Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam.
Which international actors have attempted to help resolve conflicts related to the Nile?
The World Bank, USA, EU, and Switzerland have all tried to help resolve conflicts related to the Nile.
