Nile Delta

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NASA satellite photograph of theNile Delta (shown in false color)

The Nile Delta at night

Nile River and Delta

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The Nile Delta (Arabic: Delta n-Nl or simply ed-Delta)is the delta formed in Northern Egypt (Lower Egypt) where the NileRiver spreads out and drains into the Mediterranean Sea. It is one ofthe world's largest river deltasfrom Alexandria in the west to PortSaid in the east, it covers 240 kilometres (150 mi) of Mediterraneancoastlineand is a rich agricultural region. From north to south thedelta is approximately 160 kilometres (99 mi) in length. The Deltabegins slightly down-river from Cairo.

Contents

1 Geography2 History

2.1 Ancient branches of the Nile3 Population4 Wildlife5 Climate6 Sea level7 Governorates8 References9 External links

GeographyFrom south-to-north, the delta is approximately 160 kilometres (99 mi)in length. From west-to-east, it covers some 240 kilometres (150 mi)of coastline. The delta is sometimes divided into sections, with theNile dividing into two main distributaries, the Damietta and theRosetta, flowing into the Mediterranean at port cities with the samename. In the past, the delta had several distributaries, but these havebeen lost due to flood control, silting and changing relief. One suchdefunct distributary is Wadi Tumilat.

The Suez Canal runs to the east of the delta, entering the coastal LakeManzala in the north-east of the delta. To the north-west are threeother coastal lakes or lagoons: Lake Burullus, Lake Idku and LakeMaryut.

Coordinates: 3054N 317E



Ancient branches of the Nile,showing Wadi Tumilat, and the lakeseast of the Delta

The Nile delta at the time ofHerodotus, according to JamesRennell (1800)

The Nile is considered to be an "arcuate" delta (arc-shaped), as it resembles a triangle or lotus flower whenseen from above. The outer edges of the delta are eroding, and some coastal lagoons have seen increasingsalinity levels as their connection to the Mediterranean Sea increases. Since the delta no longer receives anannual supply of nutrients and sediments from upstream due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam, thesoils of the floodplains have become poorer, and large amounts of fertilizers are now used. Topsoil in the deltacan be as much as 70 feet (21 m) in depth.

HistoryPeople have lived in the Delta region for thousands of years, and ithas been intensively farmed for at least the last five thousand years.The Delta River used to flood on an annual basis, but this ended withthe construction of the Aswan Dam.

Ancient branches of the Nile

Records from ancient times (such as by Pliny the Elder) show that thedelta had seven distributaries (from east to west):

the Pelusiac,the Tanitic,the Mendesian,

the Phatnitic (or Phatmetic),[1]

the Sebennytic,the Bolbitine, and

the Canopic (also called the Herakleotic).[2]

There are now only two main branches, due to flood control, siltingand changing relief: The Damietta (corresponding to the Phatnitic) tothe east and the Rosetta (corresponding to the Bolbitine)[3] on thewestern part of the delta.

The Rosetta Stone was found in the Nile Delta in 1799 in the port cityof Rosetta (anglicized name of Rashid). The delta was a majorconstituent of Lower Egypt. The Biblical Land of Goshen waslocated in a small area on the west bank of the Pelusiac distributary.There are many archaeological sites in and around the Nile Delta.[4]

PopulationAbout half of Egypts 80 million people live in the Delta region. Outside of major cities, population density inthe delta averages 1,000 persons/km or more. Alexandria is the largest city in the delta with an estimatedpopulation of more than 4 million. Other large cities in the delta include Shubra al Khaymah, Port Said, El-Mahalla El-Kubra, El Mansura, Tanta, and Zagazig.[5]



Population density

Whiskered tern

WildlifeDuring autumn, parts of the Nile River are red with lotus flowers. The Lower Nile (North) and the Upper Nile(South) have plants that grow in abundance. The Upper Nile plant isthe Egyptian lotus, and the Lower Nile plant is the Cyperus papyrus(papyrus sedge), although it is not nearly as plentiful as it once was,and is becoming quite rare.

Several hundred thousand water birds winter in the delta, includingthe worlds largest concentrations of little gulls and whiskered terns.Other birds making their homes in the delta include grey herons,Kentish Plovers, shovelers, cormorants, egrets and ibises.

Other animals found in the delta include frogs, turtles, tortoises,mongooses, and the Nile monitor. Nile crocodiles and hippopotamus,two animals which were widespread in the delta during antiquity, areno longer found there. Fish found in the delta include the Stripedmullet and soles.

ClimateThe Delta has a hot desert climate (Kppen: BWh) as the rest ofEgypt, but its northernmost part, as is the case with the rest of thenorthern coast of Egypt which is the wettest region in the country, hasrelatively moderate temperatures, with highs usually not surpassing31 C (88 F) in the summer. Only 100200 mm of rain falls on thedelta area during an average year, and most of this falls in the wintermonths. The delta experiences its hottest temperatures in July andAugust, with maximum average of 34 C (93 F). Winter temperatures are normally in the range of 9 C(48 F) at nights to 19 C (66 F) at days. With cooler temperatures and some rain, the Nile Delta regionbecomes quite humid during the winter months.

The Nile Delta is eroding at a rate of 50 km2 per year, and it has been predicted that it will have vanished bythe year 2550 CE.

Sea levelFurthermore, Egypts Mediterranean coastline is being swallowed up by the sea because of global warmingand the rise of the sea level, and the lack sediments being deposited since the construction of the Aswan Dam,in some places as much as 100 yards a year.[6] As the polar ice caps melt, much of the northern delta,including the ancient port city of Alexandria, will disappear under the Mediterranean. A 30-centimeter rise insea level is expected to occur by 2025, flooding approximately 200 square kilometers (77 sq mi).[7] The NileDelta is turning into a salty wasteland by rising sea waters, forcing some farmers off their lands and others toimport sand in a desperate bid to turn back the tide. Experts warn that global warming will have a majorimpact in the delta on agriculture resources, tourism and human migration besides shaking the region's fragile



ecosystems. Environmental damage to the Nile Delta is not yet one of Egypt's priorities, but experts say if thesituation continues to deteriorate, it will trigger massive food shortages which could turn seven million peopleinto "climate refugees" by the end of the century.[8]

Governorates

AlexandriaBeheiraKafr el SheikhGharbiyaMinufiyaQalyubiyaDakahliaDamiettaSharqiyahPort Said

Large cities located in the Nile Delta:

AbusirAlexandriaAvarisBilbeisBubastisCanopusDamanhurDesoukDamiettaEl-Mahalla El-KubraKafr el-SheikhLeontopolisMendesMit Abu al-KumMansouraNaucratisPelusiumPort SaidRosetta



SaisTanisTantaZagazig

References1. ^ Wilson, Ian. The Exodus Enigma (1985), page 46. London: Wiedenfeld & Nicolson.2. ^ e.g. at Callisthenes Alexander 1.31.3. ^ Hayes, W. 'Most Ancient Egypt', p. 87, JNES, 23 (1964), 73-114.4. ^ Location of the site (http://www.e-c-h-o.org/khd/location.html), Kafr Hassan Dawood On-Line, with map of

early sites of the delta.5. ^ City Population website (http://www.citypopulation.de/Egypt.html), citing Central Agency for Public

Mobilisation and Statistics Egypt (web), accessed 11 April 1908.6. ^ "Global Warming Threatens Egypt's Coastlines and the Nile Delta" (http://www.ecoworld.com/global-

warming/global-warming-egypt.html).7. ^ "Egypt's Nile Delta falls prey to climate change" (http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2010/01/28/98672.html).8. ^ "Egypt fertile Nile Delta falls prey to climate change" (http://news.egypt.com/en/201001288902/news/-egypt-

news/egypt-fertile-nile-delta-falls-prey-to-climate-change.html).

External links

The Nile Under Control (http://engwonders.orgfree.com/e049.html) - An article from 1937 aboutcontrolling the flow of the Nile.keyway.ca (http://www.keyway.ca/htm2000/20000911.htm)"Nile Delta flooded savanna" (http://worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/pa0904). Terrestrial Ecoregions.World Wildlife Fund.adaptationlearning.net (http://www.adaptationlearning.net/project/adaptation-climate-change-nile-delta-through-integrated-coastal-zone-management) - A UN project for managing sea level rise risks in theNile Delta

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