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Aswan Hydroelectric Dam
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The Aswan Hydroelectric Dam is an embankment dam situated across the Nile River in Aswan, Egypt. Since the 1950s, the name commonly refers to the High Dam, which is larger and newer than the Aswan Low Dam, which was first completed in 1902. Following Egypt's independence from the United Kingdom, the High Dam was constructed between 1960 and 1970. It aimed to increase economic production by further regulating the annual river flooding and providing storage of water for agriculture, and later, to generate hydroelectricity. The dam has had a significant impact on the economy and culture of Egypt.
Before the dams were built, the River Nile flooded each year during late summer, as water flowed down the valley from its East African drainage basin. These floods brought high water and natural nutrients and minerals that annually enriched the fertile soil along the floodplain and delta; this made the Nile valley ideal for farming since ancient times. Because floods vary, in high-water years, the whole crop might be wiped out, while in low-water years widespread drought and famine occasionally occurred. As Egypt's population grew and conditions changed, both a desire and ability developed to control the floods, and thus both protect and support farmland and the economically important cotton crop. With the reservoir storage provided by these dams, the floods could be lessened, and the water could be stored for later release.
The Aswan Hydroelectric Dam powers twelve generators each rated at 175 megawatts, producing a hydroelectric output of 2.1 gigawatts. Power generation began in 1967. When the dam first reached peak output it produced around half of Egypt's entire electricity production (about 15% by 1998) and allowed most Egyptian villages to use electricity for the first time. The High Dam has also improved the efficiency and the extension of the Old Aswan Hydropower stations.
| Aswan High Dam | |
|---|---|
| Official name | Aswan High Dam |
| Locale |  Egypt |
| Coordinates | 23°58′14″N 32°52′40″E / 23.97056°N 32.87778°E |
| Construction began | 1960 |
| Opening date | 1970 |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Length | 3830 m |
| Height | 111 m |
| Base width | 980 m |
| Impounds | River Nile |
| Spillway capacity | 11,000 m³/s |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Lake Nasser |
| Capacity | 111 cubic kilometres (90,000,000 acre·ft) |
| Surface area | 5,250 km² |
| Power station | |
| Turbines | 12 |
| Installed capacity | 2,100 Megawatt |
