Lake Nasser is one of the largest artificial reservoirs in the world. A place far from civilization, with a peace and tranquility equivalent to that of the desert, but with the added attraction that, to get to know it, there is no better way than to sail its waters by means of cruises on Lake Nasser. That is precisely what Egipto Exclusivo can provide you with, with boats and professionals of the highest professionalism to enjoy this experience safely. And to begin to make contact with this unique destination, in the following lines we show you a brief guide with its attractions and other practical information.
Lake Nasser is located at the southern end of Egypt, although a small part of it is already in Sudanese territory, where it is called Lake Nubia. It dams the waters of the Nile River between the first cataract (to the north) and the second cataract (to the south), approximately. However, the rise in the water level has meant that this second cataract, in practice, is negligible and is submerged under the waters of the Lake Nasser.
The figures that illustrate the dimension of Lake Nasser are, quite simply, enormous. It has a length of about 500 km , with a variable width that in some places reaches 35 km. This means that its total surface area exceeds 6,000 km 2, that is, larger than entire Spanish autonomous communities, such as Cantabria or La Rioja. It is estimated that the amount of water stored in it exceeds 150 km³.
In its perimeter and environment there are practically no populations, the only notable ones being the following:
This enormous surface area covered by the reservoir and the almost total absence of roads on its banks mean that the most viable way to get to know it is by means ofcruises on Lake Nasser, with stops at some points or islands where its few visible architectural remains are currently located.
At the natural level, Lake Nasser represents a unique space due to its singularity. You will not find the exuberant vegetation that one would expect from such a large mass of fresh water. And this has to do with its artificial nature and the extreme aridity of the surrounding terrain. In fact, it is striking how the waters kiss the golden rock and white sand of the desert on the shores. Its current elevation is around 180 meters above sea level, while the original of the river was about 60 meters above sea level.
However, nature always makes its way. And the Lake Nasser is no exception: on its banks and on some islands, reeds and other small plant formations have emerged, which are a favorable habitat for migratory birds or for mammals such as foxes and gazelles. Some Nile crocodiles, survivors of the environmental impact of the project, also hide in its coves. And within its waters, it is estimated that several dozen species of fish live, including the large Nile perch.
With regard to the climate, on the cruises onLake Nasser you will experience the rigors of the purest desert climate: enormous sunshine, very high maximums in summer (above 40ºC), non-existent rainfall, etc. You can take a look at the Abu Simbel page to learn more details, and we remind you that you must follow all the recommendations to protect yourself from the sun (sunglasses), solar radiation (hat, cream) and heat (hydration), although on board your boat you will be able to combat these circumstances much better.
The history of this place, as we can see it today, is recent. The waters through which you will navigate during your cruise on Lake Nasser have flooded what was, for several millennia, a settlement of the Nubian people, of which we give you more details on this other page. And although they are not visible, tens of meters below, at the bottom of the lake, the vestiges of what that civilization was are maintained, today scattered in other places in Egypt and Sudan.
But everything began to change at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Until then, the annual floods of the Nile continued to mark the rhythm of life in Egypt , especially its economy, still very dependent on the agriculture that developed in the river valley and the Delta. But, following the example of other large civil engineering projects, such as the Suez Canal, it was decided to undertake the great challenge that the Egyptians had dreamed of for millennia: to control the floods to avoid the ravages of years of drought or excessive flooding.
And with that intention, the Aswan Low Dam project was started, about 6 km south of the city, under the direction of the British Sir William Willcocks. It was carried out between the years 1899-1902 and, although it was a true milestone, its impoundment capacity proved insufficient to cover national irrigation expectations. And in fact, it was expanded several times. In the 40s, when it was on the verge of overflowing and still did not cover these needs, it was decided to build the Aswan High Dam, about 15 km south of that city.
Although the possibility of building the new dam further south, thus impounding the waters in Sudanese territory, was studied, after the overthrow of the Egyptian monarchy and the rise to power of Gamal Abdel Nasser, it was decided to carry out the current project, keeping the waters mostly in Egypt, in a decision with geostrategic implications. An initial project was carried out by the Greek-Egyptian engineer Adrian Daninos, at the beginning of the 50s, but finally it was in charge of the Russian company Hydroproject Institute, concluding towards 1970, although the filling ofLake Nasser had begun a few years earlier. A project that reflected the close collaboration between the Egyptian government and the current Soviet regime.
Once the construction of the Aswan High Dam was completed and after the definitive formation of Lake Nasser, which reached its expected level in 1976, nothing was ever the same in Egypt and, very especially, in the south of the country.
Economically, Lake Nasser and the Aswan Dam are the true engine of the country’s agriculture and, therefore, of a good part of the Egyptian economy, since this sector still represents 11% of Egypt’s GDP, according to World Bank data dated 2019. This is because this project in turn led to the creation of a huge network of water channeling for irrigation, on which the crops of the entire country depend due to the very scarce (or non-existent) rainfall that occurs here. Channels that are linked to intermediate dams in the Nile channel, but that depend on the regulation of the waters carried out by the Aswan High Dam.
Another economic benefit related to Lake Nasser was the creation of numerous jobs during the years of construction of the Aswan High Dam, something that is also significant today to carry out its maintenance. In addition, energy production through its hydroelectric plant is another relevant fact.
And of course, we must add its contribution to tourism. Not only thanks to the cruises on Lake Nasser , to which we refer on this page, but also to the cruises on the Nile on the other side of the Aswan Dam that, under normal conditions, could not be done throughout the year, because in certain months the flow would be too low for the motorboats. And no less interesting are the benefits in the quality of life and health of Egyptians, since the impounded water is also used for human consumption.
For all this, Lake Nasser represents a resounding economic success: the large investment made for the construction of the Aswan High Dam and its channeling system was amortized in just a few years. Currently it continues to generate direct or indirect benefits, in the areas mentioned above: hydroelectric production, support of national agriculture, engine of tourism…
However, it is not possible to forget other relevant and not precisely positive impacts of Lake Nasser: the environmental, the archaeological and the social. At the environmental level, it meant the modification of the riverside ecosystem of this section of the Nile, since the lowlands along the original banks disappeared when they were completely flooded by the waters of the reservoir, although in return reeds and other points of spontaneous vegetation have emerged. However, the debate on the cost-benefit at the ecological level of this project remains open, since it remains to be analyzed in the short, medium and long term how the regulation of the flow can affect the increase in the use of fertilizers in agricultural fields or the salinization of the Delta due to the entry of sea water inland.
At the archaeological level, the implications of Lake Nasser were also enormous. With the rise in the water level, all the temples and monuments built on the banks of this large stretch of river were at risk of flooding . Therefore, a huge international campaign was carried out to save the most important ones, among which Abu Simbel stands out. But other monuments were also moved, stone by stone, which the visitor can now discover on cruises onLake Nasser, as we show you below. Monuments that, although they have seen their geographical context modified, maintain their beauty and interest intact. Although unfortunately, other structures discovered or to be discovered have been flooded forever with the emergence of the reservoir.
And finally, it is worth mentioning another painful consequence ofLake Nasser: the forced displacement of the Nubian people who lived in this stretch of river. Their villages were flooded and new ones had to be built, although most decided to emigrate to other parts of the country, mainly Aswan and Cairo, or to neighboring Sudan, to the south. We tell you more about this episode on the page dedicated to Nubia.
Finally, it remains to be seen what impact the construction of a new dam will have, but in this case several thousand kilometers upstream, on the Blue Nile, in Ethiopia: the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which could modify key aspects of the river in Egyptian territory, such as its flow, so this issue is the subject of diplomatic negotiations at the highest level.
As we said, the best way to get to know this place is through cruises on Lake Nasser. In this way, there are a series of essential stops in any of them. Without a doubt, the most important is Abu Simbel. Although there are two more practical and faster ways to get here (by road and by plane), the truth is that arriving by boat offers greater charm and something unmatched by the other two means of transport: seeing these monuments from the waters, a point of view that highlights their beauty. For more information about this monument, you can visit this other page.
In addition to Abu Simbel, there are other interesting and visitable points. We show them below, ordered from north to south, that is, according to their proximity to Aswan. However, we ‘skip’ the Temple of Kalasbsha, which is located next to the Aswan High Dam and can be visited as an excursion from the aforementioned Aswan and which, therefore, we explain on the page dedicated to that city.
Monuments that, by the way, have the maximum possible protection, as they were cataloged as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, with the name ‘Nubian Monuments, from Abu Simbel to Philae’.
Located on the western shore of Lake Nasser, about 140 km south of the Aswan High Dam. It includes two temples (the one of Amun and the one of Dakka) from the Pharaonic era, in times of the New Kingdom.
It was ordered to be built by Amenhotep III (XVIII Dynasty) and, after the attacks suffered at the conclusion of the Period of Amarna, it was rehabilitated by Ramses II. In fact, you can still admire a dozen statues of this deified pharaoh, attached to the columns of one of its courtyards. Interesting reliefs of this monarch in an offering attitude and remains of Christian decoration are also preserved, which indicates that in the 5th century AD it was converted into a church. A combination of themes and styles that is certainly surprising.
For its part, the Temple of Dakka is located 1.5 km north of the temple of Amun, connected to it through a small road. It is a more recent construction, from the Ptolemaic era (3rd century BC). The most notable is its large entrance pylon, which you can climb to enjoy the views of the Lake Nasser.
This is another of the usual stops on cruises on Lake Nasser. Amada is the name of one of those Nubian villages that were flooded by the reservoir’s waters. It was decided to save this temple dedicated to Amun and Ra-Horakhty, built during the New Kingdom, in the times of Thutmose III (18th Dynasty) and restored by Seti I (19th Dynasty) after suffering damage during the Amarna Period. Its interior, decorated with highly refined bas-reliefs, which still retain much of their original polychromy, is particularly striking.
Next to the temple of Amada, two other temples were located, which are visited on the same stop of the Lake Nasser cruise. One is the temple of Derr, of speos typology, that is, excavated in the rock, which is why it had to be rebuilt in its new location. It was built in the times of Ramses II (19th Dynasty) and its interior decoration of bas-reliefs is also remarkable, maintaining original polychromy, with bright tones. It was dedicated to Amun-Ra, Ptah, and Ra-Horakhty, venerated in the sanctuary located behind the hypostyle halls.
The third construction of interest on this stop, also from the Pharaonic era, is the tomb of Penut, a local governor in the times of Ramses VI (19th Dynasty). In its reconstruction project in this new location, part of the original decoration was lost, but even today you can admire funerary scenes of the deceased with the gods on its walls.
As we have seen, all the constructions described have been preserved because they were moved to a higher elevation in the 1960s. However, there is an exception: Qasr Ibrim, about 260 km south of Aswan. This is the citadel of the village of Ibrim, which had tombs of Kushite viceroys and sanctuaries from the times of the 18th and 19th dynasties.
In that era, this fortress was also erected, modified centuries later in Roman times, in the times of Augustus, as in Christian times, as evidenced by the remains of a 7th-century church. This citadel, as was customary, was perched on top of a hill, from which to watch over all the surrounding terrain. But with the rise of the waters, it became an island in the reservoir. The Cruises on Lake Nasser usually stop here so that participants can explore the ruins of the citadel, although most of the decoration (reliefs, stelae) was moved to other places, mainly to the Kalabsha temple, near Aswan.
Due to the relative variety of fish species and migratory birds that occur in some parts of this large reservoir, it is also worth mentioning a variant of the cruises on Lake Nasser: those that have a safari character. These organized trips have the mission of fishing or birdwatching at certain times of the year.
The main target of fishing trips on Lake Nasser is the Nile perch, with specimens of ‘pharaonic’ dimensions: more than 100 kg in some cases, which is a challenge for fans of this activity. It is considered one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, but not the only one in these waters: several species of catfish, two species of tilapia, and the moonfish can also be mentioned.
And in the case of ornithological trips for bird watching, iconic species such as the African openbill, the African skimmer, the African wagtail, the pink-backed pelican, or the African green pigeon can be mentioned. The participants’ binoculars can also capture, who knows, some specimens of Nile crocodile or foxes moving along the banks of the reservoir.
There is no doubt that the best means of transport here is the boat. The Cruises on Lake Nasser are a tourist experience in themselves, but also the most practical way to move from one point to another in this reservoir. The usual thing is to depart from the port located next to the Aswan High Dam in a private boat to carry out the safari or the circuit described above. This point is located about 15 km south of the city of Aswan, which can be reached by road, by plane, or by means of other cruises on the Nile.
From the port of the Aswan High Dam, a passenger ferry also departs that sails between this point and the port of Wadi Halfa, in Sudan, so it can be a way in or out for travelers whose circuit includes both countries.
You can also consider the option of Abu Simbel as the beginning or end of cruises on Lake Nasser, since its town has a modest tourist infrastructure (hotels, restaurants, shops, etc.) from which travelers can benefit. And near this monument, there is an airport that connects it with Aswan. However, the aforementioned passenger ferry has no established stop here.
Regarding travel by road, the options include highway 75, which runs through the desert, on the western bank of the Nile, connecting Aswan and Abu Simbel in a journey of 280 km and just over 3 hours in duration. From this highway, a secondary road departs that leads to the aforementioned Pharaonic monuments (Amada, Wadi el Sebua), so it can be a solution for those interested in making specific excursions to these points.
However, Lake Nasser does not have a road that runs continuously along its banks and does not have bridges that allow you to pass from one side to the other, so the car is not viable to make a global circuit through this great reservoir.
In any case, whatever you need, Egipto Exclusivo can provide it: from cruises on Lake Nasser with the best amenities to vehicles with a driver for specific trips, as well as accommodation in strategic points of this reservoir and tailor-made activities, such as fishing safaris, birdwatching days, guided visits to monuments, or traditional Nubian experiences.
Get in touch with us and discover why the Lake Nasser is one of the most unique places in Egypt and all of Africa!
