Nile

The Nile is the longest river in Africa, flowing northward through northeastern Africa for approximately 6,650 kilometres. It originates from the highlands of Burundi, Rwanda and western Kenya, where the Nile’s two major tributaries, the White Nile and the Blue Nile, converge in Khartoum, Sudan. The White Nile, originating in Lake Victoria, contributes the majority of the river's length, while the Blue Nile, rising from Lake Tana in Ethiopia, supplies most of the water volume during the rainy season.

The river passes through several countries, including Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan and Egypt, before draining into the Mediterranean Sea near the city of Alexandria. Its basin covers an area of around 3.4 million square kilometres, supporting a wide range of ecosystems and human settlements. Historically, the Nile has been central to the development of ancient Egyptian civilization, providing fertile alluvial soil for agriculture through annual floods, as well as routes for trade and communication.

Modern importance of the Nile remains substantial. It supplies water for irrigation, electricity generation, and domestic use. The Aswan High Dam in Egypt and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile exemplify major hydroelectric projects that influence regional water security and geopolitical relations. Seasonal variations and climate change have heightened the need for cooperative management among riparian states, prompting the establishment of the Nile Basin Initiative to promote sustainable resource use and equitable sharing of benefits.