Aswan High Dam and the long line of the Nile

Aswan High Dam stretches across the Nile south of Assuan as a long rock-fill embankment. Completed in 1970 and formally inaugurated in January 1971, it holds back Lake Nasser, a reservoir extending through southern Egypt and northern Sudan.

Aswan High Dam: a rock-fill line across the Nile

The dam measures 3,830 metres (12,562 ft) along its crest and rises 111 metres (364 ft) above the riverbed. Its crest is 40 metres (131 ft) wide, while the base spreads across the river valley in a far broader mass.

Unlike a masonry wall, the structure is made from compacted earth and rock, with a clay core inside the embankment. The visible result is a broad engineered landform crossing the Nile, with the river confined between its banks and the dam extending outward in wings. the dam’s main dimensions describe its scale more clearly than a distant view can.

From the 1960s project to the Lake Nasser shoreline

Construction began in 1960 during the presidency of Gamal Abdel Nasser, after studies initiated in 1952. Egyptian engineer Adrian Daninos had presented an early proposal for a large dam at Aswan, and the project developed through Egyptian and Soviet cooperation.

The first electrical output came from the power station in October 1967. The project structure was completed in July 1970, followed by the inauguration ceremony on 15 January 1971. The dam’s hydroelectric plant forms part of the complex, while controlled water releases connect the reservoir with irrigation across the Nile Valley. the project’s construction timeline records these stages.

Lake Nasser and the Nubian monuments

Behind the embankment lies Lake Nasser, whose gross capacity is about 169 billion cubic metres. The artificial lake reaches roughly 500 kilometres through the Nile valley, with its northern continuation in Sudan known as Lake Nubia.

The rising water transformed Nubia and placed ancient monuments in danger of submersion. An international rescue campaign moved temples and other archaeological remains, including the temples of Abu Simbel and the sanctuary of Philae. The sanctuary was dismantled and reassembled on Agilkia Island, while Abu Simbel was transferred to higher ground. the Nubian monuments rescue remains closely connected with the dam’s history.

Visiting Aswan High Dam: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Aswan High Dam lies south of Assuan on the Nile. The approach follows the road from the city towards the dam and Lake Nasser.
• The site is an exposed engineering landscape of rock, embankment and open water. There is no ancient temple on the dam itself.
• Lake Nasser begins behind the dam and extends towards Abu Simbel and the Sudanese border. The reservoir is part of the landscape seen from the dam.
• The official language is Arabic and the currency is the Egyptian pound.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

Searching for Aswan High Dam on social platforms

These links open searches for Aswan High Dam on each platform.

Frequently asked questions about Aswan High Dam

Where is Aswan High Dam?

Aswan High Dam crosses the Nile south of Assuan in Upper Egypt. It lies upstream from the older Aswan Dam and beside the northern end of Lake Nasser.

What can visitors expect at the dam?

The site presents a large rock-fill embankment, the Nile, the power-station complex and open views across Lake Nasser. Its character is industrial and geographical rather than archaeological.

What makes Aswan High Dam distinctive?

Its long crest and broad earth-and-rock construction form a visible line across the Nile. The reservoir and the rescue of Nubian monuments connect the dam with a major transformation of the region.