05/10/2022
The calming waters of the Nile river symbolizes life, hope, and longevity.
With the length of 6,600 kilometers, the Nile river is the longest river in the world. Stretching from Lake Victoria in Kenya to the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt, the Nile supplies water for arid regions and serves as a crucial transportation route for traders.
Heavy reliance on the Nile river has not changed much since the ancient Egyptians. The river currently provides for 97% of Egypt’s water usage. Rising sea levels caused by global warming has increased the rate of saltwater intrusion, which presents a grave danger to the livelihoods of Egyptians. Saltwater intrusion describes the movement of sea water flowing back into freshwater. The intrusion will contaminate the freshwater supply with salts, making the water unsuitable for agriculture or drinking. An increase of just one meter of global water levels will jeopardize a third of the freshwater volume in the Nile delta. As over 60% of Egypt’s food supply originates from the Nile delta, Egypt will face disastrous food shortages if global warming continues to worsen.
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