Cataract Nile

The Nubian Swell has shifted the river's flow to the west, keeping its depth shallow and causing cascades to occur. Even as the river bed erodes, the land mass lifts, leaving parts of the river bed exposed. Because of these distinguishing characteristics of the river between Aswan and Khartoum, the stretch is often referred to as the Cataract Nile, while the downstream segment is occasionally referred to as the "Egyptian" Nile. The geological difference between these two sections of the river is significant.

The geological difference between these two sections of the river is significant. North of Aswan, the river bed is not stony but is instead formed of sediment, and far from being a shallow river, it is believed that the bedrock was once eroded to be several thousand feet deep.

When Nasser Lake was formed, the water overwhelmed the first and second cataracts. The third Cataract contains some really fascinating rocky formations. It is located north of Kerma, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Kush, which endured over 1.000 years before falling under Egyptian rule due to the natural protection provided by the cataract itself. When the 18th New Monarchy dynasty arrived, it established a border between the Egyptian Empire and the Nubian kingdom.

The fourth Cataract is located north of Karima. The Nile rushes among the rocky granite cliffs, generating many rapids that used to make navigation impossible. Most cataracts were submerged by the water of the new artificial lake in 2008, thanks to the new Merowe Dam. The 5th Cataract is located north of Atbara, near the confluence of the same river with the Nile. The lovely and delightful sandy beaches are the main feature of this one. The sixth and final Cataract is around 50 kilometers north of Khartoum. The Nile flows through a stunning granite canyon and round stone formations before flowing into the desert and forming kilometers-long gorges known as "Sabaloka."

Location: The Nile River, Sudan