Arabic Baḥr al-Nīl
River, eastern and northern Africa.
The longest river in the world, it is about 4,132 mi (6,650 km) long from its remotest headstream and 3,473 mi (5,588 km) from Lake Victoria to the Mediterranean Sea. It flows generally north from eastern Africa through Uganda, The Sudan, and Egypt. It receives major tributaries, including the Blue Nile and the Atbara River , before entering Lake Aswan High Dam impounds the lake, it continues northward to its delta near Cairo , where it empties into the Mediterranean. The first use of the Nile for irrigation in Egypt began when seeds were sown in the mud left after its annual floodwaters had subsided. It has supported continuous human settlement for at least 5,000 years, with canals and waterworks built in the 19th century. The Aswan High Dam, built in 1959–70, provides flood protection, hydroelectric power, and a dependable water supply for both crops and humans. The Nile is also a vital waterway for the transport of people and goods.