Tour Guide, Luxor, Egypt
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Each year, spring rains and melting snows in the Ethiopian highlands poured into the Blue Nile. This water carried huge quantities of volcanic silt (fine particles of earth) and decaying vegetation. These “green waters” were filled with minerals and organic material. They flowed down the Nile and started to reach Egypt by June. A month later, a wave of muddy water, enriched with silt and red earth, poured into the Nile from the Blue Nile and the Atbara. It washed over the valley floor, depositing millions of tons of mineral-laden silt, potash (a mix of minerals), and organic materials. The waters continued rising until mid-September, then gradually receded (went back to their original level in the river).
In October, the waters rose again briefly, then receded until spring. By the end of May, the Nile was at its lowest level of the year, and the land was dry and cracked. This annual flood—called the inundation—was treasured and feared. It brought life and fertility. Egypt’s civilization would have been impossible without it. But it could also bring trouble—from temporary inconvenience to major disaster. When the inundation arrived on time and was neither too high nor too low, planting and harvesting went smoothly. If the inundation arrived earlier or later than usual, the Egyptians might not be able to grow enough food.