nPostednon August 15, 2016
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ThenNile has flooded for thousands of years, and this important naturalncycle was crucial to the development of the Ancient Egyptianncivilization.
ThenNile has flooded for thousands of years, and this important naturalncycle was crucial to the development of the Ancient Egyptianncivilization.n
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nApparently,nthe timing of the flooding was so consistent that the AncientnEgyptians timed it with the “helical rising of Sirius” – anyearly event around which the Egyptian calendar is based.
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n(Thenhelical rising of Sirius is the day on which Sirius rises above theneastern horizon just a moment before sunrise. This occurs after anperiod of time during which Sirius had not been visible, because itnhad been washed out by the much stronger light of the Sun.)
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nNown– back to the Nile!
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nThenNile River was the only water source in the desert region of Egypt.nEvery year its floodwaters would dump silt onto the Egyptian’snfields. The silt was then left behind as the water soaked downwardsnor evaporated, and the minerals and organic matter left behind by thenreceding Nile fertilized the land. The reliable floods enabled thenEgyptians to grow crops and eventually to create a mighty empire!
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| The building of the Aswan Dam is a very interesting story. Ancient statues had to be cut up and relocated! |
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nEvennthough the High Dam at Aswan means that the annual flood no longernoccurs in Egypt (south of the dam, which is “above” the dam onnthe Nile, since it flows from South to North, there is still floodingnin modern-day Sudan), Egyptians still celebrate Wafaa El-Nil forntwo weeks, starting August 15. The holiday name can be translated ton“Fidelity of the Nile.”
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nWafaanEl-Nil celebrations may include flower parades, boat parades, waternsports such as rowing, water skiing, windsurfing, and swimming.nSometimes dancers and folkloric troops perform, and sometimes therenare portrayals of the ancient legends of the Nile.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nBonnin August
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nMycologistnElias Fries’s birthday
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nNationalnHoney Bee Day
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nPrincelynCelebrations in Liechtenstein
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nRestorationnof Light Day in South Korea
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nIndependencenDay in the Republic of the Congo
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nChauvinnDay
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nInternationalnHomeless Animals Day
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Plannahead:
Plannahead:
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Checknout my Pinterest boards for:
Checknout my Pinterest boards for:
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n Augustn holidays
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n Augustn birthdays
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nn Historicaln anniversaries in August
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
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n Septembern holidays
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n Septembern birthdays
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nn Historicaln anniversaries in September
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