The Nile Delta

The Nile Delta is a large area of flat, fertile land in northern Egypt. It is where the Nile River fans out and flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The delta is shaped like a triangle. It is one of the most important farming areas in the world.

Rich Farmland

For thousands of years, the Nile River flooded each summer. The floods left behind rich, dark soil on the delta. This made the land perfect for growing crops. Ancient Egyptians depended on the delta for food. Today, about half of Egypt's people live on or near the delta.

The Delta Today

The Nile Delta is about 100 miles long and 150 miles wide at the coast. Farmers grow rice, cotton, wheat, and many vegetables here. Large cities like Alexandria sit on the edge of the delta. Rising sea levels could flood parts of this low-lying land in the future.

Fun Facts

• The Nile Delta is one of the largest river deltas in the world.
• Ancient Greeks named the shape delta after their triangle-shaped letter.
• The Nile Delta can be seen clearly from outer space because it is green while the surrounding desert is brown.

Did You Know?

The Nile Delta was so important to ancient Egypt that the entire civilization grew up around the rich farmland it provided!