When was the Aswan High Dam built?
Apr 06, 2022 · April 6, 2022. 0. 1. The Aswan High Dam, Arabic Al-Sadd al-*l*, a rock-fill dam built across the Nile River in Asw*n, Egypt in 1970, was inaugurated in January 1971, having cost about $1 billion to build.
What are the pros and cons of the Aswan High Dam?
Aswan High Dam, Arabic Al-Sadd al-ʿĀlī, rock-fill dam across the Nile River at Aswān, Egypt, completed in 1970 (and formally inaugurated in January 1971) at a cost of about $1 billion. The Aswan High Dam yields enormous benefits to the economy of Egypt.
Did the Aswan High Dam increase the prevalence of bilharzia?
Aswan High Dam, Arabic Al-Sadd al-ʿĀlī, rockfill dam across the Nile River, at Aswān, Egypt, completed in 1970 (and formally inaugurated in January 1971) at a cost of about $1 billion. Popular Trending
How much land was gained from the construction of the High Dam?
Vital Statistics: Location: Aswan, Egypt. Completion Date: 1970. Cost: $1 billion. Reservoir Capacity: 5.97 trillion cubic feet. Type: Embankment. Purpose: Flood control, hydroelectric power ...
Who paid for the Aswan Dam?
America and the United Kingdom offered to help finance construction of the High Dam, with a loan of $270 million, in return for Nasser's leadership in resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict.
How many people did it take to build the Aswan Dam?
In collaboration with various engineers from Egypt, the Institute Hydroproject of Russia designed the Aswan High rock-fill dam. Out of the 34,000 people involved during the construction process, 25,000 were Egyptian engineers.
What were the 2 negatives of the Aswan High Dam?
The main negative impacts of AHD are alluvial soil water logging, building up of soil salinity, overuses of chemical fertilizers and pesticides due to preventing of fine earth fertility particles by the dam, which affects the food productions and farmers health.
Was the Aswan Dam a success?
But some experts argue that despite all the costs, the project has been an overwhelming success. The High Aswan allows predictable irrigation. It paid for itself within two years, and shielded Egypt from what would have been a disastrous drought throughout the 1980s, followed by potentially catastrophic floods in 1988.Mar 11, 2020
Why was Aswan High Dam built?
Aswan Dam - Background The High Dam was constructed between 1960 and 1970. Its aim was to increase the amount of hydroelectric power, regulate the flooding of the Nile and increase agricultural production.
What is under Lake Nasser?
Lake Nasser, Egypt. The creation of the lake threatened to submerge a number of significant historical sites—notably the tombs and temples at Philae and Abu Simbel—under its waters. The Egyptian government appealed to UNESCO, with whose assistance many monuments were dismantled and reconstructed on safer ground.
What was moved to build the Aswan Dam?
Aswan High Dam, Egypt. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. The creation of the dam's reservoir necessitated the costly relocation of the ancient Egyptian temple complex of Abu Simbel, which would otherwise have been submerged. Ninety thousand Egyptian fellahin (peasants) and Sudanese Nubian nomads had to be relocated.
What percent of Egyptians live along the Nile river?
95 percentToday, 95 percent of Egyptians live within a few kilometers of the Nile.Feb 22, 2019
How much power does the Aswan Dam produce?
10 billion kilowatt-hours everyThe Aswan High Dam captures floodwater during rainy seasons and releases the water during times of drought. The dam also generates enormous amounts of electric power -- more than 10 billion kilowatt-hours every year. That's enough electricity to power one million color televisions for 20 years!
How long does it take for a hydroelectric dam to pay for itself?
A hydroelectric system isn't overly complicated, it isn't difficult to operate and maintain, it has longevity and it's often more cost-effective than other forms of renewable power. Some experts say a successful micro hydroelectric plant will pay for itself in 15 years.Sep 1, 2011
How was Aswan Dam built?
A dam was completed at Aswan, 500 miles south of Cairo, in 1902. ... Soviet loans and proceeds from Suez Canal tolls allowed Nasser to begin work on the Aswan High Dam in 1960. Some 57 million cubic yards of earth and rock were used to build the dam, which has a mass 16 times that of the Great Pyramid at Giza.Jul 21, 2021
How many dams Egypt has?
Water v Electricity Over the past 50 years, six Nile Basin countries have built 25 hydroelectric dams. As of 2019, four dams were under construction with four more being studied.
The Old Aswan Dam
The Aswan Dam we’re talking about is actually the Aswan High Dam, the new barrage built between 1960 and 1970. However, between 1899 and 1902, Europeans built an earlier dam, now known as the Old Aswan Dam, south of the city to have some control over flooding of the Nile.
Construction of the Aswan Dam
Work on the new Aswan Dam project began in 1952, the year that a Republican coup d’état dethroned King Faruq. Nasser rose to power, and was elected President of the Republic in 1956. In 1953, Egypt began diplomatic work on funding construction of this huge project.
Safeguarding Archaeological Sites
Construction of the Aswan Dam created an artificial lake 500 kilometres long and 16 kilometres wide, making Lake Nasser the world’s largest man-made lake. Some ninety thousand people were forced to abandon their homes and move elsewhere.
The Climatic Impact of Building the Aswan Dam
The giant Aswan Dam covers a significant proportion of Egypt’s electricity needs: originally, it was forecast to cater to 50% of national demand. Today, the dam has 12 generators in operation, and generates annual hydroelectric output of 10,000 gigawatts. However, the barrage’s extensive environmental damage must not be overlooked.
What is the Aswan High Dam?
Aswan High Dam, Egypt. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. The Aswan High Dam yields enormous benefits to the economy of Egypt. For the first time in history, the annual Nile flood can be controlled by man. The dam impounds the floodwaters, releasing them when needed to maximize their utility on irrigated land, to water hundreds of thousands ...
How long is the Nile dam?
Once one of the largest dams in the world, it is 7,027 feet (2,142 metres) long and is pierced by 180 sluices that formerly passed the whole Nile flood, with its heavy load of silt. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Subscribe Now.
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Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. ...
How does the Aswan Dam work?
1. It provides a majority of the energy needs of Egypt.#N#During a typical operational year for the Aswan High Dam, about 15% of the total electrical supply available to the country comes through this project. When it first came online, almost half of the available electric power came through the dam. The electricity generated by the dam is environmentally friendly, offers predictable cost structures, and is cost-effective to maintain. At total capacity, the 12 generators with the dam are each rated for 175 MW, which means the facility can produce 2.1 GW of electrical energy.
When was the Nile dam built?
Built across the Nile River in Aswan, Egypt between 1960 and 1970, the construction was based on the successes of a lower dam built in the region. The goal was to maximize the utilization of the river while controlling flooding, improving water storage, and encouraging hydroelectricity development.
Why is the Nile River important?
It improves the safety of water-based professions. The Nile River has long been a source of fishing and early aquaculture for the Egyptian civilization. Before the Aswan High Dam was built, people working in marine professions around the world were faced with daunting wildlife problems.
What are the symptoms of schistosomiasis?
This disease, caused by parasitic flatworms, infect the intestines or the urinary tract. Symptoms include blood in the urine, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and abdominal fluid collection.
How long was the Aswan Dam?
A dam was completed at Aswan, 500 miles south of Cairo, in 1902.
What happened to the Suez Canal?
This act precipitated the Suez Canal Crisis, in which Israel, Britain and France attacked Egypt in a joint military operation. The Suez Canal was occupied, but Soviet, U.S., and U.N. forced Israel, Britain and France to withdraw, and the Suez Canal was left in Egyptian hands in 1957. Soviet loans and proceeds from Suez Canal tolls allowed Nasser ...
Why did Nasser nationalize the Suez Canal?
In response, Nasser nationalized the British and French-owned Suez Canal, intending to use tolls to pay for his High Dam project.
Overview
Construction history
The earliest recorded attempt to build a dam near Aswan was in the 11th century, when the Arab polymath and engineer Ibn al-Haytham (known as Alhazen in the West) was summoned to Egypt by the Fatimid Caliph, Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, to regulate the flooding of the Nile, a task requiring an early attempt at an Aswan Dam. His field work convinced him of the impracticality of this sc…
Specifications
The Aswan High Dam is 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) long, 980 m (3,220 ft) wide at the base, 40 m (130 ft) wide at the crest and 111 m (364 ft) tall. It contains 43,000,000 cubic metres (56,000,000 cu yd) of material. At maximum, 11,000 cubic metres per second (390,000 cu ft/s) of water can pass through the dam. There are further emergency spillways for an extra 5,000 cubic metres per sec…
Irrigation scheme
Due to the absence of appreciable rainfall, Egypt's agriculture depends entirely on irrigation. With irrigation, two crops per year can be produced, except for sugar cane which has a growing period of almost one year.
The high dam at Aswan releases, on average, 55 cubic kilometres (45,000,000 acre⋅ft) water per year, of which some 46 cubic kilometres (37,000,000 acre⋅ft…
Effects
The High Dam has resulted in protection from floods and droughts, an increase in agricultural production and employment, electricity production, and improved navigation that also benefits tourism. Conversely, the dam flooded a large area, causing the relocation of over 100,000 people. Many archaeological sites were submerged while others were relocated. The dam is blamed for coastline erosi…
See also
• Energy in Egypt
• Egyptian Public Works
• List of conventional hydroelectric power stations
• List of largest dams
External links
• View the official opening of the Aswan Dam in 1971
• Aswan Dam Sixth biggest dam
• LIFE Magazine Feb. 12, 1971 Overview of problems created by Aswan Dam