how many cataracts are there in the upper course of the nile

by Bert Kunze 8 min read

For the 800 miles from the sixth cataract to Lake Nasser, the riverbed alternates between gentle stretches and series of rapids. Outcropping crystalline rocks that cross the course of the Nile cause the five famous cataracts.Mar 13, 2022

What are the Cataracts of the Nile?

Jan 27, 2022 · The six cataracts of the Nile. The Cataracts of the Nile are shallow lengths (or whitewater rapids) of the Nile River, between Khartoum and Aswan, where the surface of the water is broken by many small boulders and stones jutting out of the river bed, as well as many rocky islets. In some places, these stretches are punctuated by whitewater, while at others the …

How many cataracts are there in Egypt?

Feb 08, 2022 · The six cataracts of the Nile are depicted extensively by European visitors, notably by Winston Churchill in The River War (1899), where he recounts the exploits of the British trying to return to the Sudan between 1896 and 1898, after they were forced to leave in 1885.

What is the fifth and sixth cataract in Egypt?

The six primary cataracts of the Nile are described extensively by European colonials, notably by Winston Churchill in The River War (1899), where he recounts the exploits of the British trying to return to Sudan between 1896 and 1898, after they were forced to leave in 1885.

Is the Nile River a waterfall?

Jan 02, 2022 · There are 6 cataracts along the Nile river, in the Nubian section of the Nile. Why is the Nile the most important physical feature in Egypt? The most important thing the Nile provided to the Ancient Egyptians was fertile land .

How many cataracts does the river Nile have?

six cataractsThe six cataracts of the Nile are depicted extensively by European visitors, notably by Winston Churchill in The River War (1899), where he recounts the exploits of the British trying to return to the Sudan between 1896 and 1898, after they were forced to leave in 1885.

Where are the 6 Cataracts of the Nile?

One of the six major sections of the Nile is in Egypt at Aswan. Individuals can find the cataracts between Aswan in Egpyt and Khartoum in Sudan. Five of the six major sections are located in Sudan, with one in Egypt at Aswan.Mar 16, 2022

Where are the cataracts in the Nile river?

The Cataracts of the Nile are shallow lengths of the Nile River, between Khartoum and Aswan, where the surface of the water is broken by many small boulders and stones jutting out of the river bed, as well as many rocky islets.

How many cataracts were there?

There are three primary types of cataracts: nuclear sclerotic, cortical and posterior subcapsular.

What are the names of the six Cataracts of the Nile river?

Cataracts of the NileThe First Cataract is near Aswan 24.078° N 32.878° E.The Second Cataract (or Great Cataract) was in Nubia and is now submerged in Lake Nasser 21.48° N 30.97° E.The Third Cataract is around Tombos / Hannek 19.76° N 30.37° E.More items...

How did cataracts in the Nile river?

Cataracts occur where outcrops of granite, as well as other resistant rocks, reach the banks of the Nile River. They not only constrict the flow of the river (limiting agriculture since the flood plain is almost nonexistent) but also impede navigation.Mar 14, 2019

What are the cataracts along the Nile similar to?

The cataracts along the Nile are most similar to where boulders turn the river into churning rapids.

What are cataracts of a river?

Cataracts are waterfalls on very large rivers. They do not have to be high, but they carry enormous volumes of water. The word cataract is not used for most waterfalls. It is used for waterfalls along the River Nile in Egypt, which are little more than steps, but there are steps in other places, too.

What were cataracts?

Cataracts are the clouding of the lens of your eye, which is normally clear. Most cataracts develop slowly over time, causing symptoms such as blurry vision. Cataracts can be surgically removed through an outpatient procedure that restores vision in nearly everyone.Apr 27, 2020

What is the Nile delta called?

Deltas with this triangular or fan shape are called arcuate (arc-like) deltas. The Nile River forms an arcuate delta as it empties into the Mediterranean Sea. Stronger waves form a cuspate delta, which is more pointed than the arcuate delta, and is tooth-shaped.Dec 12, 2013

What percentage of Egyptians live within 12 miles of the Nile river or its Delta?

Ninety-five percent of Egyptians live along the Nile or in its teeming delta, and the river provides nearly all of their water.Feb 9, 2020

Why are cataracts An important feature of the Nile?

Besides the Kushite invasion, for most of Egyptian history, the Nile's cataracts, particularly the First Cataract, primarily served as a natural border to prevent most crossings from the south, as those in said region would rely on river travel to venture north and south.Dec 20, 2021

What are the cataracts of the Nile?

The Cataracts of the Nile are sections of the river that, like the one at Aswan, are difficult to navigate. The cataracts of the Nile are sections of the Nile river characterized by extreme shallowness and a number of obstacles that make them difficult to navigate.

Where are cataracts located?

Individuals can find the cataracts between Aswan in Egpyt and Khartoum in Sudan. Five of the six major sections are located in Sudan, with one in Egypt at Aswan. All of them are distributed along the so-called Great Bend, a section of the Nile where the river veers sharply off-course before turning back towards the Mediterranean.

What degree does Mary have?

Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Geology

Geologists indicate that the region of the northern Sudan is tectonically active and this activity has caused the river to take on "youthful" characteristics. [1] The Nubian Swell has diverted the river's course to the west, while keeping its depth shallow and causing the formation of the cataracts.

History

The word cataract is a Greek word καταρρέω ("to flow down") although the original Greek term was the plural-only Κατάδουποι. However, none of the Nile 's six primary cataracts could be accurately described as waterfalls, and given a broader definition, this is the same with many of the minor cataracts.

Related Research Articles

The geography of Egypt relates to two regions: North Africa and Southwest Asia.

why are cataracts An important feature of the Nile?

The cataracts are also significant because these define river segments where granites and other hard rocks come down to the edge of the Nile. This deflection of the river’s course is due to tectonic uplift of the Nubian Swell over the past 100,000’s of years.

Is a cataract a waterfall?

Cataract, a waterfall (q.v.), especially one containing great volumes of water rushing over a precipice.

What is the difference between a cataract and a waterfall?

As nouns the difference between waterfall and cataract is that waterfall is a flow of water over the edge of a cliff while cataract is (obsolete) a waterspout.

What kept Egypt safe from enemy attack?

The desert kept Egypt safe from outside enemy’s attack. The Nile River, Desert and predictable flooding made ancient Egypt as one of the world’s early river valley civilizations.

Why was ancient Egypt hard to invade?

Natural barriers made Egypt hard to invade. Desert in the west was too big and harsh to cross. Mediterranean and Red Sea provided protection from invasion. Cataracts in the Nile made it difficult to invade from the south.

Why is a waterfall called a cataract?

It’s a derivative of katarassein, from kata– “down” plus arassein “strike, smash”. It was soon after applied to a large waterfall, strictly one in which the water plummets over a precipice; this came from a Latin use of the word to describe the Cataracts of the Nile.

What made the Nile River hard to navigate?

Cataracts and Great Bend The cataracts are also significant because these define river segments where granite and other hard rocks come down to the edge of the Nile. For these two reasons—navigation obstacles and restricted floodplain—this part of the Nile is thinly populated.

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