Facts about the Nile

Facts about the Nile
Discover fast, interesting fun facts about the Nile for kids with some amazing, cool and quick information about ancient Egypt and Egyptians. Ideal for children, homework, schools, teachers and kids of all ages! Find fascinating fun facts about the Nile for kids about the history and civilisation of the ancient Egyptians, ancient Egypt, the geography and the cities and settlements along the famous river and the Nile gods and goddesses that were worshipped there. Interesting, fun facts about the Nile river in Egypt for kids including the history, the river Nile civilization and even facts about the Nile crocodile.

Nile fortress and boat on the River Nile
 

Ancient Egypt Fact Sheet - Facts about the Nile
FACTS	SUBJECT	INFO & INTERESTING FACTS
Fact 11 on the Nile River:	Geography Black & Red Lands	The area next to the River Nile was called the 'black lands' further away from the river were the 'red lands'. Both were extremely important to the economy and civilisation of ancient Egypt.
Fact 12 on the Nile River:	Geography Black Land	The ancient Egyptians called the river 'Ar or Aur' meaning “Black,” in allusion to the color of the deposits carried by the river when it flooded. The 'Black Lands' were the farming areas on the banks of the Nile producing crops such as cereals, wheat and barley
Fact 13 on the Nile River:	Geography Red Land	The 'Red Lands' were the desert areas that protected Egypt on either side of the Nile river and separated ancient Egypt from neighbouring countries and invading armies. The 'Red Land' was also rich in raw materials such as stone and precious metals such as gold, silver and copper and semi-precious stones
Fact 14 on the Nile River:	Papyrus	Upper Egypt was known as Ta Shemau which means "the land of reeds" referring to the papyrus that grew on the banks of the river in great abundance. Papyrus was the symbol of Lower Egypt whilst the lotus flower was recognised as the symbol of Upper Egypt.
Fact 15 on the Nile River:	Lotus Flowers	Lotus flowers, or water lilies, were the flowers of the Nile river. The lotus flowers opened in the morning and closed again at night symbolizing rebirth and regeneration.
Fact 16 on the Nile River:	Cataracts	There are six cataracts along the River Nile. Only one cataract is in Egypt, at Aswan.  The dangerous cataracts consisted of rocky islets, waterfalls, whirlpools, or white water rapids
Fact 17 on the Nile River:	The First Cataract	Egypt's southern boundary was traditionally held to be at the location of the First Cataract of the Nile river
Fact 18 on the Nile River:	Dams	The major dams are the Roseires Dam, Sennar Dam, Owen Falls Dam and Aswan High Dam.
Fact 19 on the Nile River:	Aswan Dam	The Aswan High Dam project threatened the Temples at Philae and Abu Simbel. The Temple of Isis on the island of Philae was transported to the island of Agilkia and the massive rock temples of Abu Simbel were moved 180 metres inland.
Fact 20 on the Nile River:	Aswan Dam	The Aswan High Dam was constructed in 1970 and the annual floods which had occurred for thousands of years, ceased.
Fact 21 on the Nile River:	Lake Nasser	Lake Nasser is the second largest man-made lake in the world. Lake Nasser is where the waters of the Nile are held back by the Aswan High Dam constructed in 1970: at which time the Nile's annual floods which had occurred for thousands of years, ceased.
Fact 22 on the Nile River:	Lake Nasser	Lake Nasser High Dam produces 25,000 tons of fish a year.
Fact 23 on the Nile River:	Wild Life Fish	The river teems with 52 species of fish including the huge Nile Perch, sturgeon, mullet, the tiger fish, lungfish, catfish, mudfish and eel. The range attracts many tourists on fishing holidays and vacations.
Fact 24 on the Nile River:	Ancient Wild Life	The animals that inhabited the ancient banks of the river included the crocodile, ibis, hippo, gazelle, antelope, lynx, wild cat, lion, cheetah, baboon, turtles, lizards, snakes, buffalo, jackals, wild dogs and wildebeest. One of the most dangerous sports of the ancient Pharaohs was to hunt hippos.
Fact 25 on the Nile River:	The Crocodile	The Nile Crocodile is the largest crocodile in Africa and can grow up to 20 feet (6 meters) and weigh up to 1,650 pounds (730 kilograms). Newborn crocodiles are 12 inches long. The Nile crocodile, Crocodylus niloticus, was the biggest and most dangerous predator living in ancient Egypt. It has since become extinct in the lower reaches of the Nile river.
Fact 26 on the Nile River:	The Crocodile	The crocodile is feared as a vicious man-eater and many people are maimed and killed by the crocodile on the banks of the river. Only the adult hippopotamus was safe from the crocodile. Ancient Egyptian fortresses were surrounded by crocodile-infested ditches or canals.
Fact 27 on the Nile River:	Ammit, the Crocodile headed goddess	Ammit, the "Devour of the Dead" was the ancient Egyptian goddess of the Underworld, depicted as having the head of a crocodile, the torso of a lioness and the hindquarters of a hippopotamus, the most terrifying animals known to the ancient Egyptians.
Fact 28 on the Nile River:	Sobek the Crocodile god	Sobek was the Crocodile God of the Nile and army. The Nile crocodile (Crocodilus niloticus) was worshiped as the  crocodile-headed god, Sobek.
Fact 29 on the Nile River:	Crocodilopolis	Crocodilopolis, "Crocodile City", was the cult center of Sobek who symbolized the might of the Egyptian pharaohs. Faiyum was noted as a center of his worship, where one of the towns came to be called 'Crocodilopolis' by the Greeks.
Fact 30 on the River:	Ancient Cities in Lower Egypt (in the north)	The most famous ancient cities and settlements (in the north) were Memphis, Alexandria, Hermopolis, Giza, Esna (Letopolis), Busiris, Avaris, Crocodilopolis, Tanis, Leontopolis, Sais, Bubastis and Heliopolis. For additional facts refer to Ancient Egyptian Cities
Fact 31 on the River:	Ancient Cities in Upper Egypt (in the south)	The most famous ancient cities and settlements of Upper Egypt (in the south) were Thebes, Abydos, Thinis, Khmun (Hermopolis), Dendera, Hierakonpolis, Koptos, Edfu, Elephantine and Aswan.
Fact 32 on the River:	History	The Nile Valley in the south of Egypt is home to the Valley of the Kings and Queens, the Pyramids, the Sphinx and the magnificent temples dedicated to the gods of the ancient Egyptians
Fact 33 on the River:	History	The Nile River was also believed to be the bridge to the afterlife. East was a place of beginnings while the west was considered the place of death. The belief that west represented death is why all Egyptian tombs were located on the west side of the Nile in order to enter the afterlife.
Fact 34 on the River:	Civilisation Cities & Settlements	Abydos was the site of an Ancient Egyptian burial place of the early Egyptian pharaohs and was the mythical burial place of the god Osiris and his cult center.
Fact 35 on the River:	Civilisation Cities & Settlements	Thebes was inhabited from around 3200 BC and is the site of the major temples of Luxor and Karnak.
Fact 36 on the River:	Civilisation Cities & Settlements	Bubastis, now the modern city of Zagazig was the cult center of Bastet the goddess of cats.
Fact 37 on the River:	Civilisation Cities & Settlements	The ancient city of Memphis was associated with Menes, Narmer and King Hor-Aha around 3000 BC and it was the capital during the Old Kingdom
Fact 38 on the River:	Gods and Goddesses	The Nile gods and goddesses included the Elephantine Triad of Khnum, Satet and Anuket. The god Hapi was the "Lord of the River Bringing Vegetation". The cult center for these gods was on Elephantine Island situated at Aswan.
FACTS	SUBJECT	INFO & INTERESTING FACTS
Ancient Egypt Fact Sheet - Facts about the Nile