Travel: Wildlife on Lake Nasser

Al Ahram Weekly (Mohammed el-Hebeishy)

Some enjoy the pampering of a luxurious five-star resort while others prefer the non-stop beat of Sharm's nightlife. As for me I go for the road less travelled, those places on the map that only a few think of visiting. Certainly there is no right or wrong choice; the matter at the end of the day is a purely personal preference. Still, for me I love the raggedness of nature, the beauty of discovering untouched beauties, and for this, I chose Egypt's largest lake for my adventure destination. That goliath we call Lake Nasser.

Look at an old map of Egypt and you will not find Lake Nasser for the very simple reason that before the 1960s, the lake did not exist. The story goes as far back as 1902 when Egypt, then under British mandate, completed the first dam. Designed by British civil engineer Sir William Willcocks, the 1,900 metre-long and 54 metre-wide High Dam took just three years to build. However, 44 years later it was at risk of being over-flooded due to the high water level. It was then decided to build a second dam, six kilometres upriver. Though planning for the gargantuan project started right after the Free Officers overthrow of the last Egyptian monarch in 1952, actual work did not kick off until 1960, with 21 July 1970 marking the official inauguration date. Whether the High Dam is of benefit or comes with a heavy bill to pay is a controversial issue that can take up the rest of this story, so we focus on the vast expanse of fresh water the dam created -- Lake Nasser.

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