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This is as far as these big tourist boats can go. A cataract blocking navigation further up the Nile was seen in ancient times as the southern limit of Egypt. A garrisoned trading post marked the gateway to Nubia further south.
Feluccas on the Nile. The first Aswan dam was built a few kms upstream from here in 1902 to regulate the flow of the Nile. Its height was increased in 1912 and again in 1936. Hydro turbines were installed in 1960.
The world renowned Aswan Dam or High Dam is a few kms still further south. Started in 1960 and finished in 1970, it is one of the world's largest embankment dams rising 111 meters over a base 1000 meters wide and 3600 meters long.
The great temple complex dedicated to the goddess of fertility Isis, built in the 4th century BC by the Ptolemy Dynasty (descendants of Alexander's officers) on the nearby island of Philae, was dismantled and rebuilt on this higher Agilka island to avoid flooding. It is still called the Temple of Philae.
First Pylon of the Philae Temple viewed from outside.
Second Pylon seen from inside the first courtyard.
Fortress like walls of the Philae Temple seen from the back. You can distinguish the impressive second and first pylons on the left.
This elegant secondary temple is called Kiosk of Trajan after the 1st century Roman Emperor.
The Old Cataract Hotel with a heavy british flavour is still the most elegant place in town.
This view from one of the terraces of the Cataract Hotel shows how the Nile splits into several branches to flow around some islands just below the old Aswan Dam.
Lake Nasser, created by the High Aswan Dam, backed up the waters of the Nile for more than 550 kms well into Sudan whose border is about 250 kms south of here. The well known Abu Simbel Temple gained world fame for having been saved from this flooding .
The original temple was built by Ramses II in 1250 to honour the male gods Ra, Ptah, Amun and himself. The temple complex was taken apart from where it stood some 200 meters below and was reconstructed on this site at the cost of 40 million US dollars.
Even the interior was raised and faithfully reconstructed like this side chamber.
The cost quoted above includes raising this smaller temple dedicated to the god Hathor.
Main chamber of the Hathor Temple.
My original plan had been to continue south into Sudan after visiting Abu Simbel but that was not possible because Egypt had closed its border in retaliation for help Sudan had given to the dissident Islamic Brotherhood. That was really a pain in the butt for I had to take the train all the way back to Cairo and then to fly from there to Khartoum.
