Aswan High Dam

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Aswan High Dam

• Elliot Steinbach and Dana Gitlin

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Background

• Aswan is a city located on the coast of the Nile
  River in southeast Egypt.
• The Aswan Dam consists of the High Dam and the
  Low Dam.

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Why is there a need for a dam?

• If the waters of the Nile were allowed to flow
  freely, they would cause flooding of agricultural
  areas along the coastal areas.
• The purpose of the Aswan dam was to circumvent
  such flooding and create a water reservoir to
  store water to prevent famine in the case of a
  drought.
• The dam is used to generate a renewable source of
  electricity (through hydroelectric plants).

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Construction

• Construction began in 1899 by the British and was
  completed December 10, 1902.
• It was constructed by Sir William Wilcocks and
  involved many prestigious engineers.
• The original construction was a gravity dam,
  1,900 meters long and 54 meters high.

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Construction contd

• There were many issues with the original
  construction of the dam.
• The dam underwent many revisions between
  1907-1912, and 1929-1933.
• Funding for the dam was cut short by the Nasser
  revolution-most of Egypts money was directed
  towards the Suez Canal crises.
• By 1970, the high dam was completed and it was
  fully functional.

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Benefits

• The dam provides 2.1 gigawatts a year of electric
  energy.
• At times the dam was able to produce half of
  Egypts usable energy (now its down to 15).
• It allowed many rural areas to have electricity
  for the first time.
• It helps circumvent floods and droughts and
  protects crops.
• The dam helped boost the fishing economy.

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Environmental Issues

• Due to the obstruction of the natural flow of the
  water, many areas were flooded causing 90,000
  people to be displaced.
• The dam prevents the flow of many nutrients and
  minerals which were ideal for soil and farming.
• The dam creates erosion of farmland in the south
  of Egypt.
• The use of artificial fertilizers are causing
  pollution in the dam.
• The dam is preventing the natural paths of fish.
• Increases salinity content due to pollution.

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Current Condition

• The Aswan High Dam was built as a symbol of
  national strength and modernity. By increasing
  industrial and agricultural output the dam
  generates foreign exchange for Egypt, raises the
  national standard of living, and helps ensure the
  country's high status and profile in
  international affairs. There remains serious
  problems with the dam as the Egyptian population
  continues to grow, however, the Aswan dam is a
  central part of life and planning in modern Egypt.

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Bibliography

• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aswan_Dam
• http//ce.eng.usf.edu/pharos/wonders/Modern/aswand
  am.html
• http//www.mbarron.net/Nile/OWENFALL.JPG
• http//earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImage
  s/Images/sts102-303-017.jpg
• http//teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/units/by
  rnes-africa/KAYMUR/aswandam.gif
• http//community.iexplore.com/photos/journal_photo
  s/2185806-Aswan_High_Dam-Egypt.jpg
• http//www.eoc.jaxa.jp/etc/images/evg/image/aswan_
  high_dam_map.gif
• http//www.bookrags.com/Aswan_Dam