The Nile River has long been considered to be the longest river in the world. Recently, however, there has been dispute as to whether this is actually true, as the Amazon River seems to be slightly longer. Nevertheless, it is a very long river (4,132 miles, to be exact), and is the lengthiest in all of Africa. It flows in the southern, northern, and eastern regions of Africa, touching 11 countries: Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, Burundi, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Eritrea, Sudan, and South Sudan.

This river has two primary tributaries, the White Nile and the Blue Nile. The White Nile is longer, but the Blue Nile contributes more water. Each component of the Nile River is and has been very important for the people who live there. For example, it is an important trade route because it is able to connect Africa with international markets. Also, the Ancient Egyptians have famously used this river to cultivate their crops. It provided fertile land that allowed them to grow wheat, flax, papyrus, etc. This all took place in the Nile Delta, which is the specific topic covered in the episode. The Nile Delta is where the river branches out and drains into the Mediterranean Sea in an arc-shape.

The wildlife featured in the episode are the Nile Perch, Tilapia, Labeo, Bayad, and the Nile Crocodile. The Nile Perch is one of the most common fish in the Nile River, and it also is found elsewhere in Africa. The Tilapia reaches about 24 inches in length, have brown or gray bodies, and can live for over 10 years. The Labeo is also known as the Nile carp. It feeds mainly on plankton and is widely distributed throughout the Nile valley. The Bayad is a species of bagrid catfish from Africa and holds economic importance. The Nile Crocodile is the largest species of crocodile in Africa and has many subspecies that range through the continent. Other interesting wildlife in the Nile River include the hippopotamus, the Nile soft-shelled turtle, and the Nile Monitor.

Fun facts! The name Nile comes from the Greek word of river: ‘nelios’. The river discharges into the Mediterranean Sea at a rate of 680,000 gallons of water every second. The source of the river has been debated for years.

Again, the Nile Delta was crucial for the Ancient Egyptians. They used it for drinking water, crops, transportations, and the pyramids. Pretty every aspect of life was depended on by this body of water. Currently 95% of the 100 million Egyptian people still live along the Nile, as it still plays an important role.

In conclusion, the Nile is a magnificent river with features that have been used and studied for centuries.

Sources: National Geographic, Britannica, Wikipedia, SoftSchools