What is the Ni le Watershed?What is the Ni le Watershed?Wild on the Ni leWi ld on the Ni le

Healthy WaterHealthy Water

Explore the Ni leExplore the Ni leWater WebWater Web

Ni le Ni le MarketplaceMarketplace

One River,One River, 10 Countries 10 Countries

Discover the Discover the

Nile RiverNile River

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A watershed is an area of land that drains into a specific body of water, like a river, stream or lake. It includes everything within its borders: all the land, air, plants, animals, mountains, deserts, cities, farms and people. Within a large watershed, there are many small watersheds that contain streams that drain into a large river, for which the watershed is usually named.

The Nile River is the longest river on Earth, and the watershed that claims its name is also one of the largest. The Nile watershed makes up about 10% of the entire African continent.

Khartoum •

Cairo•

Kampala •

Aswan •

Atbara •

Egypt

Sudan

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Uganda

Tanzania

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Burundi

Rwanda

Lake Nasser

Lake Tana

Lake Victoria

During fl ooding on the Blue Nile, the water changes color to near black because of the dark sediment from the Ethiopian highlands. In the local Sudanese language, the word

for black is also used for the color blue – therefore, the name ‘Blue Nile’ in English.

The Nile River got its name from the Greek word ‘Neilos’ which means valley. One of the tributaries, the White Nile is so named because of the light grey color of sediment carried in the water.

The Nile River watershed includes 10 different countries. When a river

passes through multiple countries it is called a multinational (relating to

many nations or countries) river. The area of land that drains

into it is a transboundary watershed. These countries

work together to manage the watershed, so that

water can be shared among many

water users.

Kenya

Get to know the Ni le Watershed

First, trace the Nile watershed boundary on the next page with your finger and then find the following:

A. Wetlands: A wetland is wet land; it captures, stores and slows the movement of water. There are several types of wetlands, such as swamps, salt marshes and bogs.

B. Headwaters: Source, or beginning of the river.

C. Mouth: End of the river, where it flows into an ocean or sea.

D. Delta: A flat plain of sediment deposited at the mouth of a river.

E. Tributaries: Small rivers that flow into the main river.

F. Confluence: The place where two or more rivers or streams meet.

G. Boundary: Border.

H. Floodplain: Flat areas of normally dry land that are alongside many rivers and lakes. (On the map on the next page, the floodplain is shown in green.)

What is the What is the Nile Watershed? Nile Watershed?

Africa Ni le Watershed

The Sudd

Red Sea

Mediterranean Sea

Equator

Using the map of the

watershed, list all 10 countries on a separate

sheet of paper. Compare your answers with those

on the back of the book.

Wat

ersh

ed B

ound

ary

A

B

H

F

E

C

G

D

Blue Nile Gorge

Lake Edward

Lake Albert

Atbara River

White N

ile

Blu

e Nile

The Great Bend

DESERT SCRUBDesert scrub is located between sandy, hot deserts and areas with vegetation. Because water is so limited, plants and animals that live here have unique adapta-tions (adjusted to environ-mental conditions).

The Nile River watershed includes subtropical rainforests, wetlands, savanna (grasslands), desert scrub and one of the largest deserts in the world – the Sahara. Areas with similar plants, animals and climate are called biomes.

Plants, animals and people that live in each biome have adapted to live there. For example, you will not find a Mountain Gorilla, that feeds on leaves, shoots, fruit and flowers from the forest, living in the Sahara Desert.

Look at the different

biomes pictured on this page. Which biome is most like the one

where you live? What animals live in the same biome as you? Is water easy to find?

If you lived in a different biome, would you have more or less water available to use? Would you think differently

about how you use water?

SUBTROPICAL RAINFORESTAlmost all rainforests in the world are near the equator, and warm year-round. With more different trees than any other area in the world, rainforests produce 40% of Earth’s oxygen and now cover less than 6% of Earth’s land surface.

SAVANNASavannas are grasslands with scattered shrubs and trees and warm temperatures year round. These areas depend on the annual seasonal rains called monsoons that bring moisture to the grasslands. Grasslands provide food for many animals, such as giraffes, elephants, zebras and different ungulates (animals with hooves). In turn, these animals are food for predators like lions.

WETLANDWetlands are “wet land.” Worldwide, the Sudd is one of the largest wetlands. A critical habitat, it is important for storing floodwaters, trapping sediments and filtering out contaminants (pollutants).

DESERTDESERTHot, dry and vast, this biome has few plants and little, if any, rainfall. Animals are scarce and to conserve water and energy, are, generally active at night. Animals and plants are highly adapted to survive in this environment.

Of all the land animals on Earth, the African Elephant is the largest. They use their huge ears to radiate heat from their bodies and stay cool. They push trees over to reach and feed on their leaves.

African Elephant

My Home Biome

Shoebi l l StorkThis bird is native to the wetlands of the White Nile and eats frogs, baby crocodiles and fish. It captures its prey by using its large bill to probe the mud in marshy areas. During nesting season, they only lay one or two eggs on dry, high spots on the ground.

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The Sudd (suhd) is the largest wetland in Africa, and one of the largest in the world. Vegetation grows so thick in the Sudd, that boats traveling through must carry saws and chains to cut pathways through fl oating plants.

Full-grown adult hippos can weigh as much as 3,600 kilos (8,000 pounds) and need to eat 40 kilos (88 pounds) of grass every night.

Mounta in Gori l laThere are only 700 Mountain Gorillas left in the world. Gorillas get enough moisture from mountain-grown plants they eat, so they do not need to drink water. The biggest threat to these animals is loss of habitat.

Ni le Crocod i leNile crocodiles feed on just about anything including turtles, birds, fish, buffalo, antelope and lions. Crocodiles

are also dangerous to humans.

African Spurred Tortoise This tortoise is the third largest in the world and is one of the most reclusive and difficult to find. Because of the heat where it lives, it spends most of its time living in its burrow and comes out at night to eat dry grasses and leaves from shrubs.

Arabian (Dromedary) Camel A camel’s hump is a storage tank

of fat that provides water and energy for the animal in the hot, dry desert. Camels can travel 160 kilometers (100 miles) without water. When a thirsty

camel drinks, it can consume 135 liters (30 gallons) of water in only

13 minutes!

Ugandan Kob Found in sub-Saharan Africa, this type of antelope eats grasses and migrates great distances along watercourses to find food. These animals are the primary prey for predators in the Nile River watershed.

Wild on the NileWild on the Nile

Match the Match the an ima l to the biome an ima l to the biome

where i t l ives. where i t l ives. (Hint: Biomes overlap and some

animals can survive in more than one biome.) Check your

answers on the back of the book.

AraA AA ooooo aa

aaa

bibiomomomee

tt

eseseseses ththththth iii

The SourceThe SourcePeople collect their water from different sources. Some people may use pumps or boreholes to retrieve ground water (water beneath the land surface); others may directly collect water from the Nile or one of its tributaries. Some people have water piped into their homes. To protect and maintain your water source, learn where your water comes from. Because so many people in your community depend on the same water source, protecting it is important to everyone!

Over 160 million people rely on the waters of the Nile River and its tributaries for drinking, washing and cooking. Even though it appears there is a lot of water, it can become contaminated if users are not careful about the waste they produce. Contaminants can come from environmental or human sources. Parasites and viruses can be introduced into the water from human or animal waste. Chemical pollutants can enter rivers from industrial waste, as well as from individuals washing oil from a motorcycle or car, into a water source.

As water users, there are actions that you can take to protect your water from contaminants, which in turn keeps you and other animals and plants healthy.

Boiling water kills germs. Make sure your water boils

vigorously for at least three minutes before

you use it.

BoilIt!

Wash your hands frequently and vigorously with soap

and clean water for at least 20 seconds. Sing the ABC’s or your favorite tune and

wash the germs away.

Wash Your Hands

Your immune system (your natural ability to fight

disease) supports cells that fight germs. Drinking lots of clean

water, eating healthy food and getting plenty of sleep are healthy habits that keep

you strong.

Drink Up!

Using your finger on the page, Using your finger on the page, connect the descript ion wi th connect the descript ion wi th the act ion that you can take the act ion that you can take

to stay hea lthy! to stay hea lthy! Check your answers on the back page. Check your answers on the back page.

Keeping litter and waste away in the first place is

easier than cleaning polluted water. Tether livestock

away from your water source.

Maintain Your Water

Sources

Putting waste in its place helps keep germs

from home and schools.

Keep your community

clean

Sleeping under a mosquito net helps

prevent bites from malaria-infected mosquitoes that

can infect you.

Rest under a Net

Many diseases can be avoided altogether by going

to the doctor to get vacci-nations. This protects you,

your family, your school and your community.

Immunize!

6 7

Since the time of the Pharaohs, feluccas (traditional sailboats) have been used for transportation along the Nile River.

Lake Victoria is the second-largest freshwater lake in the world. The largest is Lake Superior in North America.

Healthy WaterHealthy Water

Like early explorers, take a journey up the Nile River. Following the path of an early day explorer, guide your felucca from the Mediterranean Sea up river.

How to Play1. Use a small stone, bottle cap

or a stick as a game piece for each player.

2. Place all game pieces at the Mediterranean Sea. This is the starting point.

3. Write the numbers 1 through 6 on small pieces of paper. Fold the numbered pieces of paper and place them in a hat or cup.

4. Pick a piece of paper from the hat or cup to determine how many spaces to move.

5. To start the game, select a piece of paper – the player with the highest number goes first.

6. Follow the instructions on the space where you land. If you land on an open space, stay there until your next turn.

7. The first player to reach Lake Victoria wins!

Nilometers Ni lometers were used by Egyptians

to measure water height on the Nile. As part of this turn,

measure the flood level by trying this activity. Choose a number from the hat or cup. Find the corresponding water level on

the Nilometer below and follow the instructions.

You have no wind for your sails.

Lose a turn. Favorable winds carry

you upstream. Move ahead one space.

A strong gust of wind capsizes your

boat. Start over.

You arrive at the first

cataract and spend all day portaging your boat around the rapids. Lose

a turn.

MarketpMarketplace lace MazeMaze

Welcome to Khartoum and the confluence of the Blue and White Nile. On this turn, see if you can find your way through

the marketplace maze.

Decision TimeDecision TimeOn your next turn,

choose a number. If the number chosen is even, move that many spaces on the White Nile. If the

number is odd, move that many spaces on the

Blue Nile.

You reach the bottom of the

Blue Nile gorge. You leave your boat and

continue on foot with a local guide. Move

ahead 1 space.

Congratulations!Congratulations!You made it to Lake

Tana, source of the Blue Nile. Go to the White Nile space and wait

for your next turn.

Congratulations!Congratulations!You made it through

one of the largest wetlands in the world.

On your next turn, pick a number and continue

on your journey to Lake Victoria.

You reach Murchison

Falls and portage around them. Move

ahead 1 space.

A large crocodile

attacks your boat. Lose a turn while fending off the

reptile.

You catch enough fish to feed everyone on your crew. Move ahead 2

spaces

Swampy Swampy Sudd MazeSudd Maze

starting point

A hippo capsizes your

boat. Return to the start of the maze and try again on your next turn.

8 9

One of the tallest waterfalls on the Nile River is Murchison Falls (also called Kaberaga Falls) in Uganda. It is 43 meters (141 feet) tall and only seven meters (24 feet) wide.

The Nile River has six major cataracts (rapids) that prevented early explorers from moving upriver.

You rescue 3 fishermen

who tipped their boat in the river. Move ahead 2

spaces.

The Ni lometerThe Ni lometer

6 – Disaster – Start over in the Mediterranean Sea.

5 – Abundance – Roll again and move forward that many spaces.

4 – Security – Move ahead 2 spaces.

3 – Happiness – Move ahead 3 spaces.

2 – Suffering – Go back one space.

1 – Hunger – Start over in the Mediterranean Sea.

WhiteWhiteNi leNi le

BlueBlueNi leNi le

Congratulations!Congratulations!You made it to Lake Victoria

AswanAswanDamDam

Start HereStart Here

Explore the NileExplore the NileMarketplace Maze

Marketplace Maze

Mediterranean SeaMediterranean Sea

Power plant: Water flowing in rivers is stored behind dams in reser-voirs or lakes. As water is released from the dam, it turns turbines that generate electricity.

Hydropower

Number of Players: 1-7

What You Need: pencil, paper and string or sticks

Before Playing: 1. Copy layout (shown on opposite page)

onto a separate piece of paper.

2. Each player chooses a water user (agriculture, industry, transportation, wildlife, hydropower, fishing or community) to represent. If there are less than seven, players can represent multiple users.

3. If you are playing alone, you get to represent all the water users!

Here’s How to Play:1. Start with agriculture. Have the player

representing agriculture read the water user description out loud.

2. If water is used, draw a line from agriculture to water or use string or small sticks.

3. Connect agriculture with other water users that use agricultural goods. (For example: people in the community use grain to make bread; draw a line from agriculture to community.)

4. Repeat steps above for each water user.

5. After each water user has taken a turn, consider thefollowing questions:

- After completing all connections, what image appears?

- What connects everything in the web?

- What would happen if a water user was missing?

- Why is it importantthat we protect both the quantity and quality of water resources?

Make your own Water Web!

1010 1111

After the saltwater crocodile, Nile river crocodiles are the second largest. They have measured six meters (20 feet) in length.

Nile perch are non-native, secretly introduced predatory fi sh that live in the lakes and rivers of the Nile watershed. These fi sh can grow to an immense size, such as one caught in Lake Nasser weighing 178 kilograms (392 pounds)!

Farmer: Uses water to irrigate crops.

Livestock owner: Provides water

for cattle and sheep.

Ag ricu l tu re

Mammals: Hippos, elephants and otters live in or near waterways,

such as wetlands.

Fish: Nile perch, tilapia and tiger fish live in water and eat aquatic organisms.

Insects: Aquatic insects are a food source for many other organisms.

Vegetation: Trees and other plants use water

in photosynthesis and to transport nutrients.

Reptiles: Crocodiles, lizards and some snakes live in or near waterways.

Wi ld l ife and Plants

Barge crew: Uses water to haul raw materials and

finished products.

Tourist: Uses water to visit many parts of the Nile watershed.

Individual: Uses boats, such as feluccas, canoes and ferries, to

travel across rivers and lakes.

Transportation

Domestic users: Water is used in many ways in and around the home.

Fire brigade: Uses water to extinguish fires.

Restaurant owner: Uses

water to cook meals and clean.

Community

Textile manufacturer: Uses water to wash and process

raw materials. Dye is mixed with water to color fabric.

Soft drink company: Uses water to produce soft drinks and sanitize equipment.

Paper mill: Uses water to transport pulp fiber

for paper-making and to carry away waste.

Industry and Manufacturing

Fishermen: Use water as a source for catching

fish to eat and sell at market.

Tourism: Nile perch is a popular species for sports fishing along the Nile River.

Aquaculture: Fish are raised in fish

farms for export. Fish ing

Water

Water Water WebWeb

From energy production to fishing and transportation, the waters of the Nile River watershed are an important part of life. You probably think of

drinking or cooking as using water, but most people don’t realize they are using water when eating a piece of fruit or getting dressed in

the morning. People use water for direct and indirect purposes. Direct purposes include bathing, drinking

and cooking. However, most of the items in the marketplace below

represent an indirect use of water.

For example, large amounts of water are needed to produce oil: extracting it from the ground, cooling machinery and refining it. Other indirect uses include water to grow grains for bread, to process wood for paper and to produce fabric for clothing.

In the market-place, find five

examples of indirect uses of water and

two examples of direct.

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Once common, papyrus (Cyperus papyrus), a type of reed, was used by the ancient Egyptians to make paper and advanced all of civilization.

The Sahara is the largest and hottest desert in the world. Temperatures can range from 50 degrees centigrade (122 degrees Fahrenheit) to below freezing.

Nile MarketplaceNile Marketplace

With the lives and well-being of so many people, plants and animals connected with the Nile River watershed, protecting its waters is critical. It takes the whole community (all 10 countries) to keep the watershed clean. In addition to taking action to conserve and protect water for your own home, you can learn what it takes to work with others to protect the watershed.

Just like your community, water-sheds rely on people helping each other. Everything we do affects plant, animal and human communities downstream from us. And everyone lives downstream from someone!

Try this activity with your friends and community members and learn about working together to protect and take care of your watershed.

1. Gather 10 friends, community or family members. Ask each person to represent one of the 10 countries that are part of the Nile River watershed. Can you name them? (Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC], Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda)

2. Tie 10 evenly spaced strings to a rubber band or an old bicycle tire that fits snugly around a can or jug of water.

3. Set up a short obstacle course, such as three or four chairs to create a maze, a large rock to go over, a tree branch to go under to represent challenges.

4. Ask each person to carefully pick up his or her string and, as a team, try to lift the can and move it without spilling the water. Work with team members (other countries) to move the water through the obstacle course. Cooperation and communication are the keys to making this work.

5. Communities and countries must work together to protect watersheds and address the needs of all water users.

How can you help protect the water of the Nile and its tributaries?

• Always put litter in its place. If you throw it on the ground, it will likely find its way to the river.

• Organize a school or community clean-up.

• Start a Water Club at your school.

• Teach your friends and family about how to protect the river.

• Protect grasses and trees growing along the water – or plant them.

• Protect and clean wetlands: They filter pollutants from runoff.

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Over 2,000 languages are spoken in Africa, more than any other continent.

According to Egyptian mythology, Sobek (who had the head of a crocodile) created the waters of the Nile from his sweat.

1.agunda2. atihepoi

3. ctiroamecd pilberuc fo eth ogonc

4. zatanina

5. yaken

6. dibnuru

7. teareri8. dawnar

9. nudsa10. typeg

Each flag represents one of the 10 countries that

share the Nile River watershed and its tributaries. On a separate

sheet of paper, can you unscramble the name of each country that matches

each flag? Check your answers on the back.

One River, 10 CountriesOne River, 10 Countries

Published by the Project WET FoundationCopyright 2009 Dennis L. Nelson, President and CEO

Thank you to all who contributed to the development of this publication.

Printed June, 2009 in Kampala, Uganda

Discover the Ni le River is brought to you by:Discover the Ni le River is brought to you by:

ISBN 978-1888631630

9 781888 631630

U.S. Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov

What i s the N i le Watershed?, p.2-3What i s the N i le Watershed?, p.2-3The ten countries in the Nile River watershed are: Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania

Wi ld on the N i le, p.4-5Wi ld on the N i le, p.4-5Biome AnimalSubtropical Rainforest Mountain Gorilla African Elephant

Savanna Ugandan Kob African Elephant

Wetland Nile Crocodile Shoebill Stork African Elephant

Desert Scrub African Spurred Tortoise Arabian (Dromedary) Camel

Desert Arabian (Dromedary) Camel

Hea lthy Water, p.6-7Hea lthy Water, p.6-7

Ni le Marketplace, p.12-13Ni le Marketplace, p.12-13

Direct use of water: Blue circles

Indirect uses of water: Yellow circles

One River, 10 Countries, p.14-15One River, 10 Countries, p.14-151. Uganda 6. Burundi2. Ethiopia 7. Eritrea3. Democratic Republic 8. Rwanda

of the Congo 9. Sudan4. Tanzania 10. Egypt5. Kenya

Companion PublicationDiscover the Nile River poster

Project Team:John Etgen, Project LeaderSandra DeYonge, Project Director and WriterKristen Read, Project Manager and WriterMeg Long, Financial ManagementJessica Patrick, Production Assistant and Contributing Writer

Reviewers:Dennis Nelson, President & CEO, Project WET FoundationStephanie Kaleva, Senior Director of Communications and Publications, Project WET FoundationLinda Hveem, Executive Assistant to the President & CEO; Project WET FoundationAggrey Oluka, Teacher, Lake Victoria School, Entebbe, UgandaMacline ‘Teddy’ Tindamanyire, Project WET Coordinator, UgandaOur friends at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, Entebbe, Uganda

For other publications, go towww.projectwet.org

Answer KeyAnswer Key

Project WET Foundation Mission: To reach children, parents, educators and communities of the world with water education. Project WET’s Kids in Discovery series (KIDs) is designed to help children discover the scientific, natural, cultural and historical wonders of their world. www.projectwet.org