Known as Swenett to the ancients.
For well over 3,500 years Aswan quarried & finished the bulk of Egypt's massive granite stone slabs, blocks, colossal statues, and obelisks then shipped them downriver to the ancient construction sites. A major ancient trading center in Sub-Africa and a protective military facility. Under every dynasty, Aswan was viewed as a granite quarry frontier garrison trading center.
The annual flooding of the Nile during late summer turned the majority of the Aswan River Basin into a series of huge whitewater rapids. All this ended in 1970 when the Aswan High Dam became fully operational. The dam resolved many of Egypt's flooding problems and now produces much of its electrical power. However, the Dam also created unexpected issues. The ancient floods brought high water with nutrients and minerals that annually enriched the fertile soil all along Egypt's floodplains and delta. Today once self-sufficient Egypt must now employ the use of manmade imported fertilizers to grow its crops. The runoff from the fertilizer coupled with the lack of nutrient-rich silt has created a fisheries dead zone in much of Egypt's end of the Mediterranean Sea.
The last photo of Aswan's largest Mosque was taken from the top deck of our Riverboat.
The following morning, we boarded a plane for Abu Simbel.
Great set of images Ken. Thanks for the tour.
Don
Umnak
Loc: Mount Vernon, Wa.
Very interesting and a great set! Love that night shot and the "late afternoon boat ride"!
Rob
Outstanding series...terrific photos...many thanks for sharing with us!!
I have recently been to Egypt and greatly enjoy all your photos. Thank you
Thanks for sharing your beautiful tour!
planepics
Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs
Can't wait to go...47 days and counting until I leave for Jordan and Egypt! I extended my trip a day on either side for jet lag recovery and to spend my 60th birthday in Cairo.
I like to thank all that came by & made kind comments
One heck of a trip & if you have a chance to go -- DO IT!!
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