Nile Valley：Nile River

The Nile River, the longest river in the world, flows from south to north through northeastern Africa. It begins in the rivers that flow into Lake Victoria (located in modern-day Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda) and travels more than 6,800 kilometers (4,000 miles) to the north, emptying into the Mediterranean Sea on Egypt’s coast. The river’s three main tributaries are the Atbara, the Blue Nile and the White Nile. The entire Nile River basin—made up of interconnected streams, lakes and rivers—threads its way through 11 African countries: Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

The Nile River was critical to the development of ancient Egypt. The soil of the Nile River Delta between Cairo, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea is rich in nutrients, due to the large silt deposits the Nile leaves behind as it flows into the sea. The banks of the Nile all along its vast length contain rich soil as well, thank...