The Nile River

The Nile River flows through the northeast part of Africa. It is about 4,130 miles long. That makes it one of the longest rivers on Earth. The river runs through 11 countries. It ends when it pours into the Mediterranean Sea. People have lived along the Nile for thousands of years.

Where the Nile Flows

The Nile has two main parts. They are called the White Nile and the Blue Nile. The White Nile starts near Lake Victoria. The Blue Nile starts in the mountains of Ethiopia. The two rivers meet in Sudan. Then they flow north as one big river all the way to Egypt.

A map follows the long Nile River through Africa.
A map follows the long Nile River through Africa. (Shannon1 / Wikimedia Commons)

Why the Nile Is Important

The Nile gives people water to drink. It also waters their crops. Long ago, ancient Egyptians built their homes and farms by the river. Each year the Nile would flood. The floods left rich mud on the land. This mud helped plants grow. Today, farmers still use the Nile to water their fields.

Fun Facts

  • The Nile is home to big crocodiles and hippos.
  • The famous pyramids of Egypt were built near the Nile.
  • Papyrus plants grow by the Nile, and ancient people used them to make paper.

Did You Know?

The word Nile comes from an old Greek word that means river valley.