Nile Delta

NASA satellite photograph of the Nile Delta (shown in false color)

The Nile Delta (Arabic: دلتا النيل‎) is the delta formed in Northern Egypt (Lower Egypt) where the Nile River spreads out and drains into the Mediterranean Sea. It is one of the world's largest river deltas—from Alexandria in the west to Port Said in the east, it covers some 240 km of Mediterranean coastline—and is a rich agricultural region. From north to south the delta is approximately 160 km in length. The Delta begins slightly down-river from Cairo.

Contents

Shape and composition

Nile River and Delta

The Nile is considered to be an "arcuate" delta (arc-shaped), and resembles a triangle or lotus flower when seen from above. The outer edges of the delta are eroding, and some coastal lagoons have seen increasing salinity levels as their connection to the Mediterranean Sea increases. Since the delta no longer receives an annual supply of nutrients and sediments from upstream due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam, the soils of the floodplains have become poorer, and large amounts of fertilizers are now used. Topsoil in the delta can be as much as 70 feet in depth. Also the topsoil falls off in the land and causes the water to rise.

History

Branches of Nile Delta, and surrounding region

People have lived in the Nile Delta region for thousands of years, and have been intensively farming for at least five thousand years. The Nile River used to be flooded on an annual basis, but this ended with the construction of the Aswan Dam. Records from ancient times (Pliny the Elder), show that the delta 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, e.g. at [Callisthenes] Alexander 1.31). There are now only two main branches, due to flood control, silting and changing relief: The Damietta (corresponding to the Phatnitic) to the east and the Rosetta (corresponding to the Bolbitinic)[2] on the western part of the delta. The Rosetta Stone was found in the Nile Delta in 1787 in the port city of Rosetta (anglicized name of Rashid). In pharaonic times, this area was Lower Egypt. It was also called the "Land of Goshen".

The Rosetta Stone, found in the Nile Delta in 1799

Flora & Fauna

During the fall, 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 Lower Nile plant is the Egyptian lotus, and the Upper 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, including the world’s largest concentrations of little gulls and whiskered terns. Other birds making their homes in the delta include grey herons, Kentish Plovers, shovelers and cormorants. Also found are egrets and ibises.

Other animals found in the delta include frogs, turtles, tortoises, mongooses, and the Nile monitor. Nile crocodiles are no longer found in the Nile Delta. Fish found in the delta include the Striped mullet and soles.

Whiskered Tern

Climate

The Nile Delta has a Mediterranean climate, characterized by little rainfall. Only 100 to 200 mm of rain falls on the delta area during an average year, and most of this falls in the winter months. The delta experiences its hottest temperatures in July and August, averaging 30°C, with a maximum of around 48°C. Winter temperatures are normally in the range of 5° to 10°C. The Nile Delta region becomes quite humid during the winter months. The Nile Delta is eroding at a rate of 50km2 per year, and it has been predicted that this Delta will have vanished by the year 2550AD

Egypt Nile Delta Governorates

Ancient and modern cities in the Delta region

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