Nile Delta

The Nile Delta (Arabic: دلتا النيل, Delta an-Nīl or simply الدلتا, ad-Delta) is the delta formed in Lower Egypt where the Nile River spreads out and drains into the Mediterranean Sea. It is one of the world's largest deltas, stretching from Alexandria in the west to Port Said in the east. The area covers about 240 km (150 mi) along the coast and is roughly 160 km (100 mi) from north to south.

This region is very important for farming, making it a rich agricultural area. The Nile Delta begins near Cairo and is a key part of Egypt's landscape and history. It supports many people who live and work there, helping to feed the country with its crops and fruits.

Geography

The Nile Delta is a big, triangle-shaped area in Egypt where the Nile River spreads out and flows into the Mediterranean Sea. It stretches about 160 km (100 mi) from north to south and about 240 km (150 mi) along the coast from west to east. The Nile splits into two main branches called the Damietta and the Rosetta, which flow into the sea at cities with the same names.

The area has several lakes near the coast, including Lake Manzala, Lake Burullus, Lake Idku, and Lake Mariout. In the past, the delta had more branches of the river, but many have disappeared due to flood control and natural changes. Today, the edges of the delta are slowly wearing away, and the soil is becoming less fertile because dams upstream stop the river’s natural supply of nutrients. Farmers now use fertilizers to help their crops grow.

History

People have lived in the Nile Delta region for thousands of years, and it has been farmed for at least five thousand years. The delta was an important part of Lower Egypt, and many ancient sites and artifacts have been found there. In 1799, the Rosetta Stone was discovered in the port city of Rosetta, which is the same as Rashid. In 2019, divers found a small Greek temple, ancient columns, ships, and coins from the time of Ptolemy II at the sunken city of Heracleion, often called Egypt's Atlantis. These discoveries were made by Egyptian and European divers led by underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio. They also found parts of an important historic temple underwater off the coast of Egypt.

In 2019, archaeologists led by Mostafa Waziri found tombs and burials from very old times in the Kom Al-Khelgan area of the Nile Delta. These included the remains of animals, special objects called amulets, and carved stones, along with pots, knives, and broken pottery. The burials had skulls and skeletons in a special position but were not very well preserved.

Ancient branches of the Nile

Records from long ago, such as those by Ptolemy, said that the delta had seven distributaries or branches:

• the Pelusiac
• the Tanitic
• the Mendesian
• the Phatnitic or Phatmetic (later the Damietta)
• the Sebennytic
• the Bolbitine (later the Rosetta)
• the Canopic (also called the Herakleotic, Agathodaemon)

George of Cyprus list

Source:

• Alexandrian (Schedia canal)
• Colynthin (Canopic)
• Agnu (Rosetta)
• Parollos (Burullus)
• Chasmatos (Baltim)
• Tamiathe (Damietta)
• Tenese (Tinnis)

Today, experts think that in ancient times there were five main branches:

• the Pelusiac
• the Sebennytic
• the Canopic
• the Damietta
• the Rosetta

The first three of these branches dried up over time because of flood control, silting, and changes in the land. The Damietta and Rosetta branches still exist today. The Delta used to flood annually, but this stopped when the Aswan Dam was built.

Population

About 70 million people live in the Nile Delta region. In areas outside the big cities, many people live close together, with about 1,000 people for every square kilometer (or 2,600 people for every square mile). Cairo is the biggest city here. Other large cities in the delta include Shubra El Kheima, Port Said, El Mahalla El Kubra, Mansura, Tanta, and Zagazig.

Wildlife

In the autumn, parts of the Nile River turn red because of lotus flowers. The plants along the Nile grow very well. The Upper Nile has Egyptian lotus plants, while the Lower Nile has Papyrus Sedge plants, though these are now rare.

Many water birds visit the delta in the winter. You can find little gulls, whiskered terns, grey herons, Kentish plovers, shovelers, cormorants, egrets, and ibises there. Other animals in the area include frogs, turtles, tortoises, mongooses, and the Nile monitor. Fish such as flathead grey mullet and soles also live in the delta.

Climate

See also: Climate of Egypt and northern coast of Egypt

The Nile Delta shares the same hot desert climate as the rest of Egypt. However, the northern part of the delta, which is the wettest area in the country, has milder temperatures. In summer, temperatures there usually don't go above 31 °C (88 °F). The delta gets only 100–200 mm (4–8 in) of rain each year, mostly during winter. The hottest time of year is July and August, with average highs around 34 °C (93 °F). Winter nights are cool, around 9 °C (48 °F), while daytime temperatures are about 19 °C (66 °F). During winter, the delta feels cooler and more humid with some rain.

Sea level rise

Further information: Climate change in Egypt

The Nile Delta is at risk because of rising sea levels caused by changes in the world's climate. Since a big dam was built, less dirt and sand reach the delta, making the problem worse. If the sea rises just 30 cm, a small part of the delta could be flooded. If it rises to 1 meter, many people and a lot of farms could be affected. Some farms are now salty because of this, and people have had to find new ways to protect the land.

The coastline of the delta has also changed because people have turned some areas into farms and places for fish, and cities have grown along the coast.

Governorates and large cities

The Nile Delta is part of several areas called governorates, including Cairo, Alexandria, Beheira, Kafr el Sheikh, Gharbiya, Minufiya, Qalyubiya, Dakahlia, Damietta, Sharqiyah, Port Said, Ismailia, and Suez.

Some big cities in the Nile Delta are Cairo, Abusir, Alexandria, Avaris, Bilbeis, Bubastis, Canopus, Damanhur, Desouk, Damietta, El Mahalla El Kubra, Kafr El Sheikh, Mendes, Mansoura, Pelusium, Port Said, Rosetta, Sais, Tanis, Tanta, and Zagazig.