HeritagePhoto Wikimedia CommonsAswan High Dam
Egypt
It's time to take a break for lunch. Once you've finished your meal, we'll head to the impressive High Dam. This structure is considered one of the most significant accomplishments of the past century in Egypt, as it contains 18 times the material used in the Great Pyramid of Cheops. Not only does it provide the country with water and electricity, but it also protects Egypt from the destructive flooding of the Nile River.
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to the As-wan High Dam, one of the most ambitious and controversial engineering projects of the 20th century. Standing here, you are atop a massive barrier of rock, clay, and concrete that forever changed the face of…
Listen in the app2The Crest of the Dam and Lake Nasser Views
As we walk along the crest of the dam, the contrast between the two sides is staggering. To the south, you see the vast, shimmering expanse of Lake Nas-ser. …
Listen in the app3The Monument of Arab-Soviet Friendship
Dominating the skyline near the dam is a massive, modernistic concrete structure known as the Monument of Arab-Soviet Friendship, or the 'Lotus Tower.' Designed by Soviet architects, the monument consists of five towering…
Listen in the app4The Hydroelectric Power Station
Directly below the main embankment lies the heart of the dam's economic value: the hydroelectric power station. While the control of water was the primary goal, the generation of electricity was the project’s great secondary…
Listen in the app5The Resettlement of Abu Simbel and Philae
As we stand atop the dam, we must address the 'rescue mission' that captured the world's imagination. When it became clear that Lake Nas-ser would drown many of Egypt's most precious antiquities, UN-ES-CO launched an…
Listen in the app6The Old Dam vs. The High Dam
To understand the 'High' Dam, one must also look north to the 'Low' or 'Old' As-wan Dam, completed by the British in 1902. As you look downriver, you can see the older structure in the distance. …
Listen in the app7Impact on Agriculture and the Nile Valley
The true success of the High Dam is found not in its concrete walls, but in the green fields of the Nile Valley hundreds of kilometers to the north. Because the water flow is now constant, Egyptian farmers can grow three crops a…
Listen in the app8Closing
As we conclude our visit to the As-wan High Dam, we stand at a crossroads of time. Behind us is the ancient Nile, the river of the Pharaohs, which once flooded these banks with seasonal regularity. …
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What is Aswan High Dam?
Aswan High Dam is a place in Egypt with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Egypt |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 23.9709, 32.8774 |
| Last updated |
