Story by: Josh Laskin for Travel + Leisure | Photography Courtesy of: Getty Images/ AWL Images RM
The Nile River, stretching almost 4,160 miles from Uganda to Egypt, is the longest river in the world. Its title as the longest river is challenged only by the mighty Amazon, which has several mouths that make it difficult to determine where exactly the river ends. (Even the length of the Nile is debated, with measurements ranging from 4,160 miles to 4,258 miles.)
During the Nile’s journey north and prior to where it flows into the Mediterranean Sea, the river collects water from from 11 different African countries. Along its route, the Nile passes through a large range of ecosystems: If one were to travel it’s entire length, they would find themselves passing through almost every type of terrain, from high mountains to low, arid deserts to tropical rainforests.
The Nile is the primary water source for both Egypt and Sudan.
In addition to experiencing the unique and diverse flora, fauna, and ecosystems that exist along the length of the river, there are artifacts and sites left behind by the ancient Egyptians that traveled its banks thousands of years ago. The importance of the Nile’s role in the development of Egyptian civilization is apparent as most ancient Egyptian cultural and historical sites can be found within close proximity to the river.
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