In ancient times, it flooded the shores of Egypt once every year, in August. Modern Egyptians still celebrate this event with Wafaa an-Nil, a holiday that starts on August 15 and lasts for two weeks.
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The flooding of the Nile is the result of the yearly monsoon between May and August causing enormous precipitations on the Ethiopian Highlands whose summits reach heights of up to 4,550 m (14,930 ft).
The discharge of the main stream, as well as the tributaries, is regularly measured. The Nile swells in the summer, the floods rising as a result of the heavy tropical rains in Ethiopia. In South Sudan the flood begins as early as April, but the effect is not felt at Aswan, Egypt, until July.
It's with Nour El Nil and their one of their FAQ is is it safe to swim in the Nile? Their answer is Yes, of course! Every week our guests swim in the Nile without any problems or cause for concern. The currents ensure that you are swimming in clean, non-stagnant water.
The river became known as the “Father of Life” and the “Mother of All Men” and was considered a manifestation of the god Hapi, who blessed the land with life, as well as with the goddess Ma'at, who embodied the concepts of truth, harmony, and balance.
The civilizations of the Nile were affected by seasonal changes. The rise and fall of the Nile established the three agricultural seasons for ancient farmers in Egypt. The seasons were called Akhet (in the fall), Peret (in winter), and Shemu (in summer). During Akhet, the river flooded the land.
Nile discharge rises quickly from late June and peaks in late August or early September. Figure 1 shows a typical flood recorded at Aswan before the building of the High Aswan Dam in 1964. The intensity of the summer monsoon is a key control on flood magnitude, which can change year to year.
Local authorities merely directed farmers to dig channels and construct small earthen dams and riverbank levees to divert floodwaters into or away from certain areas. The first extensive Egyptian irrigation projects did not occur until after 300 B.C. in the area of the Faiyum Oasis.