The Nile River

Learn about the famous and vitally important Nile River in Egypt with this great educational video. The Nile River has long provided drinking water for humans and allowed plants to survive the hot, sunny weather of Africa. During the summer time in central Africa, heavy rains wash large amounts of top soil and plant material into the river. Further downstream in Egypt these rains cause the Nile River to overflow while rich new layers of soil are left behind. This fertile soil along the banks of the Nile is known as the Nile Delta, it allows important food crops to grow and was an important factor in the growth of Ancient Egypt. Recently, however, droughts, floods and a number of environmental issues have made it difficult for those who rely so heavily on the Nile basin to survive.