World Culture: set 19B; Aswan Dam

Negative effects #1

Decreased in agricultural land in the Nile Delta. Millions of tons of silt no longer flows down the Nile. The spread of the silt, was the reason this land was so fertile and excellent for growing crops.

Positive effect #1

Ended the devastating flood and drought cycle, allowing Egypt to have a dependable source of water.

Why is Aswan dam on the Nile a mixed blessing?

It supplies hydroelectric power and it created a lake that stores water for irrigation. Problem is it traps the the rich silt that once renewed the Egyptian soil, so farmers in the lower Nile Valley must buy fertilizers.

Aswan Dam

It was built in 1956 to control the flooding of the Nile River. The dam gives Egyptian farmers a more dependable source of water for their crops. It also gives Egypt electrical power.

Positive effect #3

Land that use to flood annually, can now be used for agriculture. Another benefit to the economy of Egypt.

Some people believe the Aswan dam is a major achievement. Others consider it a mistake. What evidence would you give to support each argument?

Review both positive and negative effects listed beneath. The Aswan Dam Has had both positive and negative effects. It depends on which issue a person cares most about whether they view it as a major achievement.

Positive effect #2

The Aswan Dam creates electricity (power) for the Egyptian villages. This has been a boost to the economy of Egypt.

Negative effect #2

The Dam project caused 90,000 Egyptian peasants and Sudanese nomads had to be relocated from their lands.

Nile Delta

The most fertile area of land in Egypt located end of the Nile River where it empties into the Mediterranean Sea

Lake Nasser

The name of the largest artificial lake that was created by the Aswan High Dam project. Lake is 300 miles long and 10 miles wide.

Negative effect #3

The population of migratory fish was impacted. The Dam disrupted their path by blocking their path. Lake Nasser has to be stocked with fish to correct this problem.

Negative effect #4

There is a snail that is living in the irrigation system, that causes a disease called schistosomiasis (parasite)