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Lake Nasser, Egypt

Also known as:  Aswah High Dam Reservoir

Lake Nasser, in Egypt’s Upper Region, is a modern technological marvel with ancient roots. In Egypt’s extremely arid climate, the Nile and its annual floods have provided fertile sediments since before the time of recorded history. Attempts to dam the Nile have been on-going since at least the year 1000 when Fatimid Caliph, Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah summoned Iraqi engineer Ibn al-Haytham to control the flooding of the…
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    • All About Lake Nasser, Egypt

    Lake Locations: Egypt - Upper Egypt Region -

    Lake Nasser, in Egypt’s Upper Region, is a modern technological marvel with ancient roots. In Egypt’s extremely arid climate, the Nile and its annual floods have provided fertile sediments since before the time of recorded history. Attempts to dam the Nile have been on-going since at least the year 1000 when Fatimid Caliph, Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah summoned Iraqi engineer Ibn al-Haytham to control the flooding of the Nile. When al-Haytham realized the impossibility of the task, he wisely feigned madness until the Caliph died. A dam was finally completed in 1902 by British engineers. The height of the dam was raised twice due to flooding and when the Nile again flooded in 1946, it was determined a new, larger dam was needed. Planning began in 1954 after the Egyptian Revolution and incited an international incident of major proportions; the new Egyptian leader, Nasser made a weapons agreement with the USSR over the United States. The dam was funded and completed with the help of Russian engineers and the USSR. The resulting 2,030 square mile lake extends into the Sudan where it is called Lake Nubia.

    The flooding that was scheduled to occur after dam construction created major cultural and archaeological problems. It flooded much of lower Nubia and over 90,000 people were displaced. Archaeological sites such as the fort at Buhen were flooded by newly formed Lake Nasser. A massive international effort moved some famed ruins such as the Temple of Philae to higher ground. Loss of the yearly floods and fertile sediment deposited has lowered the fertility of the Nile Valley and reduced fisheries in the Mediterranean Ocean. Reduced river outflow allows salt water from the Mediterranean to encroach farther upstream, ruining existing fields. The majority of water flowing past the dam is now used for irrigation. The dam itself generates a large portion of Egypt’s electricity and has improved living standards for many of the smaller villages.

    Lake Nasser has developed into an excellent sport fishery. Anglers travel from around the world to try their luck with the giant Nile perch that reach nearly 400 pounds. The aggressive tiger fish and vundu catfish are also favorites. The huge size of these game fish require special tackle and equipment. Most fishermen engage one of the local guides and cruise services to facilitate their once-in-a-lifetime fishing trip. As with most Egyptian cruises and tours, it is far cheaper to arrange these before arriving in the country.

    Any travel in the Lake Nasser area requires travel by boat a matter of necessity: generally, foreigners are not allowed to travel in private vehicles or taxis on the road from Aswan to Abu Simbel and are instead required to stick with vans, buses and microbuses with police escorts. Most visitors take the tourist trains or a plane. Ferries take passengers and vehicles between Aswan in Egypt and Wadi Halfa, where the railway goes to Khartoum, capital of Sudan. Since it is prohibited to cross the Sudan-Egypt border on land, and no paved roads connect the two countries, the ferries are the only alternative to air travel. Despite travel difficulties, Egypt has managed to develop the Lake Nasser area as a tourism center. Vacation rentals in the form of hotels and some private villas are available. The city of Aswan a few miles downstream is usually the lodgings center for visitors to Lake Nasser. Many times, tours and cruises arrange lodgings as part of the tour. As many visitors fly into Cairo, most tourists visit the Valley of The Kings to explore the Sphinx and the major pyramids before heading to Lake Nasser.

    Lake Nasser has many activities of interest to the visitor from afar. Of interest to the bird watcher, more than 100 species of birds have been recorded: wild ducks, pelicans, herons, egrets, Egyptian geese, and various species of hawks, falcons, kites and eagles will be among the birds seen along with yellow-billed stork, African wagtail, African skimmer and Kittliz’s plover. Many are amazed at the variety of wildlife that thrive in this arid land: In most areas there are crocodile and monitor lizards, along with desert fox, jackals, Dorcas gazelle, and various desert mammals. Tours can be found catering to all of these interests.

    No trip to Lake Nasser would be complete with out a sail on the ancient traditional Nile sailboat, the felluca. These Nile sailboats have been in use for thousands of years and are common for both Nile river and Lake Nasser travel. Overnight cruises on a felluca are available but accommodations are somewhat primitive. Most visitors opt for day cruises instead. In some areas, fellucas are available for rent by the hour but the adventurous visitor should be aware that these boats sail differently than the usual sailboat. Sailing the Nile is facilitated by the prevailing winds that blow upstream and the current easing the trip downstream.

    Side trips on Lake Nasser include both the relocated Temple of Philae and the stunning Temples of Abu Simbel, both which are only accessible by water. The Temple of Philae is considered one of the most picturesque in Egypt. The main temple at Abu Simbel has four gigantic statues of Ramses II at the entrance. The intricately decorated walls inside the temple depict the great victories of ancient Egypt’s greatest king. The smaller temple is dedicated to Ramses II favorite wife, Nefertiti and features two statues of the queen and four statues of Ramses.The preservation of such magnificent works of ancient art assures visitors that the expense and effort of moving them was well worth the price.

    No visitor can leave the Lake Nasser area without visiting the town of Aswan. The local souks, or markets which sell produce, hand-crafted goods and general household needs are a must-see, as is the Corniche along the Nile. After experiencing the excellent weather and the friendly Egyptian people, it is easy to see why the Agha Kahn came here to live out his life. Agatha Christie penned her novel, “Death on The Nile” at the Old Cataract Hotel here. In fact, many visitors make Aswan their headquarters for their Lake Nasser visit as it is an old, old tourist area with many amenities for European visitors and plenty of historical charm.

    A visit to Lake Nasser is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. The beautiful lake is the perfect backdrop for the ancient temples and the varied exotic wildlife. Choose your destinations, cruises and vacation rentals today. Real estate may be available in some areas. You, like the Agha Kahn, may decide to spend the rest of your life here.

    Things to Do at Lake Nasser

    These are some activities in the Lake Nasser, Egypt area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Sailing
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • Ruins

    What Kind of Fish Are in Lake Nasser?

    Lake Nasser has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Catfish
    • Perch
    • Tiger Fish
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    Find Places to Stay at Lake Nasser

    If you’re considering a Lake Nasser lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Lake Nasser Vacation

    Our interactive Lake Nasser lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Lake Nasser Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: Minestry of Electricity and Energy

    Surface Area: 1,482,632 acres

    Shoreline Length: 5,592 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 601 feet

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 560 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 642 feet

    Average Depth: 83 feet

    Maximum Depth: 590 feet

    Water Volume: 50,264,218 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1970

    Drainage Area: 1,100,005 sq. miles

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