This Day, That Year – July 21

This day in history we feature Aswan Dam. The Aswan High Dam, is the world’s largest embankment dam, which was built across the Nile in Aswan, Egypt on this day in 1970.

Trivia – Aswan High Dam

The Aswan High Dam was completed in 1970 (and formally inaugurated in January 1971) at a cost of about $1 billion. It yields enormous benefits to the economy of Egypt. For the first time in history, the annual Nile flood is under human control. The dam impounds the floodwaters, releasing them when needed to maximize their utility on irrigated land, to water hundreds of thousands of new hectares, to improve navigation both above and below Aswan, and to generate enormous amounts of hydroelectric power (the dam’s 12 turbines can generate 10 billion kilowatt-hours annually). The dam’s reservoir also supports a fishing industry.

Related read – Massive cargo ship turns sideways, blocks Egypt’s Suez Canal.

The High Dam has also improved the efficiency and the extension of the Old Aswan Hydropower stations by regulating upstream flows. The High Dam has resulted in protection from floods and droughts, an increase in agricultural production and employment, electricity production, and improved navigation that also benefits tourism.

Source – Wikipedia/Britannica

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