The only reason Egypt has even existed from ancient times until today is because of the Nile River, which provides a thin, richly fertile stretch of green through the desert. Ethiopia is finalizing construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, its first major dam on the Blue Nile, and then will eventually start filling the giant reservoir behind it to power the largest hydroelectric dam in Africa. But the Nile is different: few nations rely so completely on a single river as much as Egypt does. Around 60 percent of Egypt’s Nile water originates in Ethiopia from the Blue Nile, one of two main tributaries. For Ethiopia, the $5 billion dam is the realization of a long-delayed dream.

Source: Egypt Independent October 02, 2017 06:45 UTC