Environmental problems: Salinization of the Nile delta.The ecology in and around the Nile changed a lot since the construction of the Aswan High Dam.The vegetation around the lake changed as a result of the change in water quality. In the Nile River itself a lot of fish-species disappeared, and the species that survived decreased in number
Conclusion
The relation between the environmental care of the Nile and the maintenance of the system is as follows. The system is not very stable; the water management is mainly to protect the Nile as it is today. It is tried to keep the environment intact. But the system is not stable as is said before. The water management will probably have many problems in the future by trying to maintain the situation as it is today.
Abstract
This abstract is mostly about the durable water management in the Nile. Durable water management in the Nile is mainly provided by irrigation. Below there is a description of the Nile and the most important things that are done to provide enough water for the Nile for irrigation.
The Nile’s origin is in the lake Victoria in Tanzania from there it flows to Lake Albert, further Northwards through Sudan. In Sudan, the Blue Nile joins the Nile and together they flow through Egypt in the direction of the Mediterranean Sea, where it ends.
The climate in most of the parts of the Nile is a desert climate. The evaporation is much higher than the rainfall.
In order to control the regime of the Nile, the Aswan High Dam was built. This dam was completed in 1964. The dam provides enough water throughout the year for the irrigation in the Egypt.
The function of the lower Nile is mainly for irrigation. Other smaller functions are fishing and tourism. The fishing function is becoming smaller because of the decreasing amount of fish. There isn’t very much written about the first part of the Nile in the report. This is because the report is mostly about irrigation; witch takes place in the upper part of the Nile in Egypt.
About the first part of the Nile, the following can be said. In the first part of the Nile, it receives a lot of water from different sources. As you can see on the map, the Nile is the only river in the desert witch never loses al it’s water. There aren’t many people living around the Nile, the persons that are living there use the Nile for irrigation, but this is so small if compared to the irrigation in Egypt that it isn’t used in the report.
The river basin of the Nile river
The ecology in and around the Nile changed a lot since the construction of the Aswan High Dam. A lake formed before the dam, (lake Nasser) and a lot of land disappeared. The vegetation around the lake changed as a result of the change in water quality. In the Nile River itself a lot of fish-species disappeared, and the species that survived decreased in number.
Another effect of the Aswan High Dam is the salinization of the Nile delta. Because the amount of water behind the dam is smaller, more saline water flows into the land. This has great effect on the land. Plants cannot grow in saline water.
Another effect of the dam on the delta is that because the sediment stays in Lake Nasser, the water after the dam does not have enough sediment anymore, the delta can no longer grow, the delta even erodes because of the power of the incoming saline water. So the delta of the Nile is disappearing.
The Aswan High Dam itself, has a great effect on the land and ecology. For example, the weight of the dam causes more earthquakes.
The major goal of the dam was to provide a good irrigation throughout the year. This objective has been achieved; the Egyptians can now grow three crops a year instead of one.
The function of the lower Nile is mainly for irrigation. Other smaller functions are fishing and tourism. The fishing function is becoming smaller because of the decreasing amount of fish.
The relation between the environmental care of the Nile and the maintenance of the system is as follows. The system is not very stable; the water management is mainly to protect the Nile as it is today. It is tried to keep the environment intact. But the system is not stable as is said before. The water management will probably have many problems in the future by trying to maintain the situation as it is today.
Links:
http://www.findarticles.com
http://www-ocean.tamu.edu/Quarterdeck/QD3.1/Elsayed/elsayed.html
http://www.teacherlink.usu.edu/TLresources/longterm/LessonPlans/africa/KAYMUR/LINK.htm
http://www.nzz.ch/english/background/background2000/background0007/bg000722egypt.html
http://www.hewett.norfolk.sch.uk/curric/NEWGEOG/Africa/waterwa7.htm
http://www.worldbank.org/afr/nilebasin/
http://www.nilebasin.org
