On July 21, 1970, the construction of the Egyptian Aswan High Dam was completed.

A key
objective of the Egyptian Government following the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, the dam has
the ability to control floods, provide water for irrigation, and generate hydroelectricity were
seen as pivotal to Egypt’s industrialization. The High Dam was constructed between 1960 and
1970, and has had a significant effect on the economy and culture of Egypt. Soviet leader Nikita
Khrushchev referred to it as “the eighth wonder of the world”. 22 ancient Egyptian monuments
and architectural complexes, including the Abu Simbel temples, that were threatened by
flooding were preserved by moving them under an UNESCO Campaign.

The Floods of the Nile

Before the dams were built, the Nile flooded every year during late summer, when water
flowed down the valley from its East African drainage basin. These floods brought high water
and natural nutrients and minerals that annually enriched the fertile soil along the floodplain
and delta; this had made the Nile valley ideal for farming since ancient times. Because floods
vary, in high-water years the whole crop might be wiped out, while in low-water years
widespread drought and famine occasionally occurred. As Egypt’s population grew and
conditions changed, both a desire and ability developed to control the floods, and thus both
protect and support farmland and the economically important cotton crop. With the reservoir
storage provided by the Aswan dams, the floods could be lessened and the water stored for
later release.

The British and the First Dam

The British began construction of the first dam across the Nile, the so-called Aswan Low Dam in
1898, which was opened on 10 December 1902. When initially constructed between 1899 and
1902, nothing of its scale had ever been attempted; on completion, it was the largest masonry
dam in the world. The dam, originally limited in height by conservation concerns, worked as
designed, but provided inadequate storage capacity for planned development and was raised
twice, between 1907–1912 and again 1929–1933. These heightenings still did not meet
irrigation demands and in 1946 it was nearly over-topped in an effort to maximize pool
elevation. This led to the investigation and construction of the Aswan High Dam 6 kilometres
upstream.

Imperialism, Capitalism, and Communism

The Egyptian government of King Farouk showed no interest in the first plans, but the Egyptian
position changed completely with the overthrow of the monarchy, led by the Free Officers
Movement including Gamal Abdel Nasser. While opposed both to communism, capitalism, and
imperialism, Nasser presented himself as a tactical neutralist, and sought to work with both the
United States and the Soviet Union for Egyptian and Arab benefit. Nasser negotiated as well
with the United States as with the Soviet Union, since he also intended to achieve a weapons
deal to support Egypt in the war against Israel. In June 1956, the Soviets offered Nasser $1.12
billion at 2% interest for the construction of the dam. On 19 July the US State Department
announced that American financial assistance for the High Dam was “not feasible in present
circumstances.”
The Temple of Abu Simbel

Archaeologists began raising concerns that several major historical sites, including the famous
temple of Abu Simbel were about to be under water. A rescue operation began in 1960 under
UNESCO. The construction of the high dam lasted from 1960 to 1970. The Aswan High Dam is
3,830 metres long, 980 m wide at the base, 40 m wide at the crest and 111 m tall. It contains
43,000,000 cubic metres of material. At maximum, 11,000 cubic metres per second of water
can pass through the dam. The High Dam has resulted in protection from floods and droughts,
an increase in agricultural production and employment, electricity production and improved
navigation that benefits tourism. Conversely, the dam flooded a large area, causing the
relocation of over 100,000 people. Many archaeological sites were submerged while others
were relocated. The dam is blamed for coastline erosion, soil salinity and health problems.

Moving the Monuments

22 monuments and architectural complexes, including the Abu Simbel temples, that were
threatened by flooding from Lake Nasser were preserved by moving them to the shores of Lake
Nasser under the UNESCO Nubia Campaign. Also moved were Philae, Kalabsha and Amada.
Other monuments were granted to countries that helped with the works (such as the Debod
temple in Madrid, the Temple of Taffeh in Leiden and the Temple of Dendur in New York). The
remaining archaeological sites, including the Buhen fort have been flooded by Lake Nasser.
Most famous was the relocation the the Abu Simbel temples, two massive rock temples at Abu
Simbel, a village in Nubia, southern Egypt, near the border with Sudan. They are situated on
the western bank of Lake Nasser, about 230 km southwest of Aswan. The twin temples were
originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II in the 13th
century BC, as a lasting monument to himself and his queen Nefertari, to commemorate his
victory at the Battle of Kadesh.[4] The complex was relocated in its entirety in 1968, on an
artificial hill made from a domed structure, high above the Aswan High Dam reservoir. The
entire site was carefully cut into large blocks (up to 30 tons, averaging 20 tons), dismantled,
lifted and reassembled in a new location 65 meters higher and 200 meters back from the river.

The Aswan High Dam

The Aswan High Dam has produced several negative side effects, however, chief of which is a
gradual decrease in the fertility and hence the productivity of Egypt’s riverside agricultural
lands. This is because of the dam’s complete control of the Nile’s annual flooding. Much of the
flood and its load of rich fertilizing silt is now impounded in reservoirs and canals; the silt is
thus no longer deposited by the Nile’s rising waters on farmlands.[2] The reduction of
waterborne nutrients flowing into the Mediterranean is suspected to be the cause of a decline
in anchovy populations in the eastern Mediterranean. The end of flooding has sharply reduced
the number of fish in the Nile, many of which were migratory. Lake Nasser, however, has been
stocked with fish, and many species, including perch, thrive there.[3]