Week 3 Rivers

f you choose to make your posting on rivers, your next stop will be a stream or river anywhere in the world. Describe what you see. Consider such factors as shape of the valley occupied by the river or stream, load being carried, its ephemeral or perennial nature and the likelihood of flooding. Does the river meander? Why or why not? Note details of particular interest to you.

The Nile River 

The Nile River is a North flowing river that is located in Africa and flows through Egypt and Sudan. The Nile River Valley is surrounded largely by flood plains and is used by farmers for irrigation due to the abundance of minerals in the water as well as the frequent dry seasons and droughts that are felt in the desert regions surrounding much of the river. In the dry season, the river's discharge can drop to a low of 1.6 billion cf/s per day. The load being carried by the Nile varies and contains mostly soil sediment. This is the case for several reasons including flooding, overfarming, deforestation, and other improper uses of the river and it's natural levies due to the poverty in the nations surrounding the nile river and the many streams, rivers, and lakes that feed the Nile River. Some of the sources of water that feed the Nile Include Lake Victoria (which is the second-largest freshwater lake in the world), the Blue Nile, and the White Nile rivers. The fact that so many other large sources of water feed into the Nile river is important because they contribute to the load the Nile carries. The Nile River floods every year due to the rainy season in the sub-tropical regions it runs through as well as the rainfall all of the contributing bodies of water receive annually during the African rainy seasons. Due to the sheer length of the river though, different parts of the river experience the flooding at differing times, not simultaneously. The river meanders and the rate at which it meanders is increased by poor farming, irrigation, and levy techniques which has subsequently led to the deposition of minerals and sediment in an unnatural manner leading to farmlands being overflooded and in some cases being completely consumed by the river as it creates new cut banks that consume what was once farmland. It is extremely interesting to note that in most instances the richness of a river like the Nile in regards to its positive impact on farming typically leads to rich crops and in most cases wealth. However, five of the poorest nations on the planet are within the Nile River Basin. Another interesting fact is that the Nile River is a North flowing river and is considered the longest river in the world. 

References
Smith, G, C. et al. (2019) The Nile River: Britannica Encyclopedia. Retrieved From:
https://www.britannica.com/place/Nile-River

Ahmed, A.A. (2011). Meandering and Bank Erosion of the Nile River and it's Impact. Retrieved From: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12517-009-0048-y

Credit: Sporcle.com