Aswan Dam

The river nile constantly floods...

• attempts were made to control flooding for 2000 years
• 1952- construction began of the Aswan Dam

The Soviet Union funded the Aswan Dam.

The aid in which it was given is known as tied aid- egypt had to give something in return for the dam! (arms)

The Aswan Dam is know as a multi-purpose scheme:

• stores water and used to irrigate crops
• provides hydroelectricity
  

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• 50% of electricity consumption (Egypt) made by Hydroelectricity

• Silt build up around L.Nasser (fertile soils)

• More food processing and cotton industry (higher crop yields)

• Land reclaimation (more agricultural land)

• L.Nasser = protection against flooding and famine

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• Silt- very little as you go north of the Dam (no fertile land)

• Evaporating L.Nasser lead to water loss -> shallow waters spred dieases (e.g malaria)

• No silt = chemical fertiliers = water pollution

• 120,000 relocated

• Incresed amount of irrigated land (artifically watered)

• Seismic stress- earthquake of 1981 (thought to be the caused by the dam)- higher water levels=higher seismic activity

• higher eveporation

• Aswan Dam provides 50% less than expected water

• Increased stagnant water=Bilharzia

• Crop yields droped by a third from slainization (salty water-toxic for plants)

• Shortage of water (not equally distrubted)