The Nile

Disputed or not, the Nile is the longest River in the world. It passes through 11 countries - from East Africa to the Mediterranean Sea. It discharges into the sea through its 2 branches, Rosetta River to the west and Damietta to the East. 

With source starting through the Kagera River and discharging at Cairo into the sea, the Nile runs a course of 6650km.

The two major tributaries of the Nile;

• The White Nile, starts from Burundi / Rwanda through the Kagera River. It is so named because of the white clay suspended in it. It is the main headwater of the Nile.
• The blue Nile from Lake Tana in Ethiopia. It contains about 80% volume of the water making up the Nile.

The two tributaries join at Khartoum, capital of Sudan.

The Nile is as old as Egyptian civilization. Egyptians bury their dead west of the Nile because of their belief that the setting sun represents death while its rising life. Also, ancient Egyptian calendar was based on cycles of the Nile.

The Nile is a precious gift to North African countries where it pass, being their major water source in the desert. Most key cities like Juba, Cairo, Jinja...are located along the Nile. It has aided the economy, trade and tourism amidst others of these countries.

In South Sudan, more than half of the Nile’s water is lost due to evaporation & transpiration in the large swamps of the country.

Of its many tributaries, the Atlanta River - Red Nile in Ethiopia flows during raining season and dries up in dry season. In severe disasters like drought, the Blue Nile dries also.

According to history and satellite imagery, the Nile was was longer starting from Zambia. Despite the blessing of the Nile, drought has been a major cause of death in countries along the Nile’s course in years.