Nile River

Table of Contents

References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images & Videos

Nile River basin and its drainage network

Journey of the Nile: The longest river in the world

Roman Kiosk, Nile River

Murchison Falls

Blue Nile River

For Students

Al-Jizah. Giza Necropolis, Giza Plateau, Cairo, Egypt. Side view of Sphinx with the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) rising in the background. The sides of all three of the Giza pyramids are astronomically oriented to be north-south, east-west (see notes)

Pop Quiz: 18 Things to Know About Ancient Egypt

Luxor, Egypt: feluccas on Nile River

Nile River summary

Read Next

Hippopotamus in the water. Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Kenya

11 Fascinating Nile River Plants and Animals

Namib desert, Namibia.

8 Amazing Physical Features of Africa

Cleopatra hieroglyphic carving the Ancient Egyptian queen Cleopatra. Wall of the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Egypt.

What Did Cleopatra Look Like?

Sunset over the Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt.

Were All Egyptian Pharaohs Buried in Pyramids?

An ancient egyptian hieroglyphic painted carving showing the falcon headed god Horus seated on a throne and holding a golden fly whisk. Before him are the Pharoah Seti and the goddess Isis. Interior wall of the temple to Osiris at Abydos, Egypt.

11 Egyptian Gods and Goddesses

Discover

Small, white rat (genus Rattus) on a glass table. (rodent, laboratory, experiment)

Cruel and Unusual Punishments: 15 Types of Torture

Marriage. A couple getting married during a church wedding ceremony. (religion, ceremony, bride, groom)

The Seven Sacraments of the Roman Catholic church

Fish. Lionfish. Lion-fish. Turkey fish. Fire-fish. Red lionfish. Pterois volitans. Venomous fin spines. Coral reefs. Underwater. Ocean. Red lionfish swims by seaweed.

10 of the World’s Most Dangerous Fish

Close up of books. Stack of books, pile of books, literature, reading. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society

12 Novels Considered the “Greatest Book Ever Written”

African Americans demonstrating for voting rights in front of the White House as police and others watch, March 12, 1965. One sign reads, "We demand the right to vote everywhere." Voting Rights Act, civil rights.

Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement

Illustration for Demystified "How Dangerous is Quicksand"

How Deadly Is Quicksand?

Battle of the Alamo from "Texas: An Epitome of Texas History from the Filibustering and Revolutionary Eras to the Independence of the Republic, 1897. Texas Revolution, Texas revolt, Texas independence, Texas history.

6 Wars of Independence

Nile River: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

Sudan war drains life from once-thriving island in capital's heart • Apr. 16, 2025, 2:16 AM ET (The Standard)

Sudanese on Nile island in capital recount paramilitary repression • Mar. 28, 2025, 11:08 PM ET (Straits Times)

Did You Know?

Tourists can go white water rafting on the Nile River in Uganda.
Ancient Egyptians worshipped a god of the Nile named Hapi.
The Rosetta Stone was discovered near Rosetta (Rash+d), a town located along the Nile River.
In 2013, a British journalist walked the length of the Nile in nine months.

Photos and Videos

Nile River basin and its drainage network

Roman Kiosk, Nile River

Murchison Falls

Blue Nile River

Journey of the Nile: The longest river in the world

Experience the magic of the Nile on a historic steamboat

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

Zambezi River Congo River Niger River Blue Nile River Victoria Nile Orange River Limpopo River Volta River Gambia River Kagera River

Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

Quiz

Al-Jizah. Giza Necropolis, Giza Plateau, Cairo, Egypt. Side view of Sphinx with the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) rising in the background. The sides of all three of the Giza pyramids are astronomically oriented to be north-south, east-west (see notes)

Pop Quiz: 18 Things to Know About Ancient Egypt

water glass on white background. (drink; clear; clean water; liquid)

Water and its Varying Forms

Church of Saint George (Bet Giyorgis), Lalibela, Ethiopia. UNESCO World Heritage site.

Geography of Africa Quiz

Tower Bridge over the Thames River in London, England. Opened in 1894. Remains an Important Traffic Route with 40,000 Crossings Every Day.

Guess the City by Its River Quiz

Mount Kenya in Mount Kenya National Park is the highest mountain in Africa. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Giant Lobelia in foreground. (Mt. Kenya; Mt. Kenya National Park; mountains; rugged mountain; African geography, African landscape, stratovolcano)

Africa’s Physical Features

Shallow staghorn water corals in fringing reef at low tide in Thailand. (coral reefs; endangered area; ocean habitat; sea habitat; coral reef)

Unknown Waters

Mt. Elbrusvolcano, Western Caucasus mountain range, Russia. (dormant Russia)

Natural Wonders

List

Namib desert, Namibia.

8 Amazing Physical Features of Africa

Hippopotamus in the water. Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Kenya

11 Fascinating Nile River Plants and Animals