Egypt captivates travelers with its ancient history, the cradle of civilization at the crossroads of the world's greatest empires. And it's no accident that this history was written in Egypt: we owe it, in large part, to the Nile, a legendary river and source of life. To retrace the thread of history and travel to the heart of the earth, there's nothing better than taking a cruise on the Nile, encountering the most beautiful ancient temples and modern markets. Here are 6 facts about the Nile that will make you even more eager to visit Egypt:

It's the Longest River in the World

The Nile is a river that holds many records. At 6,695 km long, it is the world's greatest river. The Amazon comes close, and some researchers even claim the South American river is longer than the Nile. But the Nile proudly holds its title as the planet's longest river, making it also an important commercial route.

A vast waterway across Africa, the Nile flows through 11 countries: Tanzania, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt.

There Are Actually Two Niles

We often speak of the Nile in the singular, but incorrectly. This immense river actually has several tributaries, the most important of which are the White Nile and the Blue Nile. The two rivers meet at Khartoum, in Sudan, to form the Nile that flows into Egypt. While the White Nile, which begins near Lake Victoria, is the longer and more constant of the two, the Blue Nile supplies the river with the most water. In Ethiopia, the mythic Blue Nile, calm during the dry season, becomes a massive torrent during the rainy season. And it's precisely because of Ethiopia's exceptional climate and landscape that the Blue Nile is the source of more than 60% of the water that nourishes Egypt.

It's a Source of Life in the Sahara...

Forming a true oasis in the middle of the world's largest desert, the Nile has made life possible in this otherwise hostile region. In the Sahara, the Nile creates a genuine source of life through its water that regularly floods the land, as well as the mud and rich minerals it carries. Satellite photos reveal an impressive oasis of green vegetation that develops around the Nile each year, starkly contrasting with the aridity of the rest of the desert.

This is why ancient Egypt was built around the Nile: in fact, a cruise on the Nile allows you to encounter the most beautiful buildings and ancient cities of this great civilization. But the Nile has not lost its place today, and 95% of Egyptians still live around the Nile!

...And for Animals, a True Oasis

Obviously, the Nile has enabled not only humans to flourish. It is also an essential source of life for North Africa's fauna and flora. As the only water source for many species, rich in minerals, the Nile attracts thousands of animals, some of them endemic. Among them are hippopotamuses, turtles, numerous fish species, as well as the famous Nile crocodiles that rank among the world's largest (6m). In fact, they were revered in ancient Egypt, and one city (Chedet) even had a (real) crocodile as its icon, which they covered with gifts and offerings.

The Nile also forms one of the world's greatest avian migration routes, and you can see countless birds there!

As for flora, the Nile offers great diversity of green vegetation in the otherwise arid Sahara landscape. You'll find jungles and marshes, bamboos, banana trees, and papyrus.

The Nile Remains Full of Mysteries

Despite its long existence and the countless expeditions along the Nile that began in early antiquity, the river has not yet revealed all its secrets. Its source, for example, remains disputed, and many adventurers have made it their mission to find it. While the source of the Blue Nile was found in Ethiopia, the source of the White Nile has yet to be determined.

Another curiosity: the Nile makes a detour of approximately 300 km through the desert.

These mysteries and others gave rise to many myths in antiquity. In fact, the river was often depicted as a god with a hidden face.

Celebrated, the Nile is Also Contested

The Nile has always been celebrated since the earliest civilizations settled on its banks. Even today, Egyptians celebrate the Nile each year for two weeks during "Wafaa an Nil." This speaks to the importance the Nile has assumed in history.

But this vital source of life to North Africa is highly coveted and even disputed. For modern populations, the Nile is essential for agriculture, but also for other resources like electricity. The Aswan Dam built in 1970, which created Lake Nasser, allowed for the first time the control of the river's flow and its floods. This considerably changed the Nile.

A new dam construction project in Ethiopia, launched in 2010, is a major source of tension. The massive dam, which would provide electricity to Ethiopia's population, would reduce water flow to Egypt by at least 25%.