GCSE GCSE GeographyGeography

Year 10Year 10

UNIT 2UNIT 2

WATER, WATER, LANDFORMS & LANDFORMS &

PEOPLE.PEOPLE.

Case Study:Case Study:

Over coming water Over coming water shortages and controlling shortages and controlling floods. floods.

The River Nile and the The River Nile and the Aswan high dam, Egypt.Aswan high dam, Egypt.

Introduction:Introduction:

There are many world There are many world examples of where an examples of where an attempt to solve one human attempt to solve one human problem can create new problem can create new environmental ones. The environmental ones. The building of the Aswan Dam on building of the Aswan Dam on the River Nile in Egypt is one the River Nile in Egypt is one such example.such example.

A satellite image of the Nile A satellite image of the Nile basin:basin:

Facts about the Nile:Facts about the Nile:

The Nile is the world’s longest river. The Nile is the world’s longest river. It flows 6,690 km (4,160 miles) from its It flows 6,690 km (4,160 miles) from its

source on the equator to its mouth in source on the equator to its mouth in the Mediterranean Sea.the Mediterranean Sea.

The river basin of the Nile covers one-The river basin of the Nile covers one-tenth of all Africa.tenth of all Africa.

During its 1,520 km (950 mile) journey During its 1,520 km (950 mile) journey through Egypt it has no tributaries and through Egypt it has no tributaries and hardly ever gets any rain.hardly ever gets any rain.

A photograph of the A photograph of the River Nile:River Nile:

Egypt, the gift of the Nile:Egypt, the gift of the Nile:

Nile supported agricultural Nile supported agricultural

population for thousands of population for thousands of

years.years.River supplied Egypt’s water River supplied Egypt’s water

needs.needs.Annual floods deposited nutrient-rich Annual floods deposited nutrient-rich silt next silt next

to river and in delta.to river and in delta.Irrigation made farming possible in an Irrigation made farming possible in an

otherwise desert area.otherwise desert area.

Water for irrigation was obtained by Water for irrigation was obtained by two methods:two methods:

1.1. Each Autumn, annual flood water was Each Autumn, annual flood water was allowed to cover the land, where it allowed to cover the land, where it remained trapped behind small remained trapped behind small bunds until it deposited its silt.bunds until it deposited its silt.

2. During the rest of the year when 2. During the rest of the year when river levels were low, water was lifted river levels were low, water was lifted one or two metres by a shaduf one or two metres by a shaduf (sakia) wheel or Archimedes screw.(sakia) wheel or Archimedes screw.

Only the land next to the Nile had a reliable, Only the land next to the Nile had a reliable, regular supply of water. Land further away from regular supply of water. Land further away from the river needed to be irrigated. Irrigation is the the river needed to be irrigated. Irrigation is the artificial watering of the land. One old method is artificial watering of the land. One old method is shown below shown below

The Shaduf is a long The Shaduf is a long pole. At one end is a pole. At one end is a bucket which is bucket which is dipped into the river, dipped into the river, and at the other end and at the other end is a heavyweight. is a heavyweight. The weight makes it The weight makes it easier to swing the easier to swing the full bucket round to full bucket round to the irrigation the irrigation channel.channel.

Early river management:Early river management:

Since the time of the Pharaohs, the Since the time of the Pharaohs, the Egyptians wanted to control the Nile so that Egyptians wanted to control the Nile so that its level would remain constant throughout its level would remain constant throughout the year.the year.

Barrages designed to store water did not Barrages designed to store water did not meet the needs of the country’s rapidly meet the needs of the country’s rapidly growing population and increasing demand growing population and increasing demand for food.for food.

The problem was how to increase the area of The problem was how to increase the area of cultivated land and, at the same time, cultivated land and, at the same time, produce electricity.produce electricity.

The Aswan High DamThe Aswan High Dam

Aswan High Dam fact file:Aswan High Dam fact file:

The dam and associated hydro-electric The dam and associated hydro-electric power station, opened in 1971.power station, opened in 1971.

It took 11 years to construct.It took 11 years to construct. Lake Nasser, which formed behind the Lake Nasser, which formed behind the

dam, is 550 km in length.dam, is 550 km in length. The area of Lake Nasser is 6000 km 2.The area of Lake Nasser is 6000 km 2. The total capacity of the lake is 162, The total capacity of the lake is 162,

000 million litres.000 million litres.

A multipurpose scheme:A multipurpose scheme:

It was built:It was built:

1.1. To stop, by storing water in Lake Nasser, To stop, by storing water in Lake Nasser, serious flooding in the Lower Nile valley serious flooding in the Lower Nile valley and, by releasing it throughout the year, and, by releasing it throughout the year, to maintain a constant river level.to maintain a constant river level.

2.2. To provide water all the year round for To provide water all the year round for domestic, agricultural and industrial use.domestic, agricultural and industrial use.

3.3. To increase the area of cultivation.To increase the area of cultivation.

4.4. To provide hydro-electric power. To provide hydro-electric power.

Was the dam a success?Was the dam a success?

While the scheme has indeed While the scheme has indeed brought many benefits to Egypt brought many benefits to Egypt (mainly economic and social), it (mainly economic and social), it has also created many problems has also created many problems (often environmental and health), (often environmental and health), some of which were unforeseen.some of which were unforeseen.

Advantages of the dam:Advantages of the dam:

Disadvantages of the dam:Disadvantages of the dam: