Cities of the Nile

Egypt has a desert climate.  The land is sandy, and no vegetation grows in the desert.  It is hot and dry the whole year, except for the few rain showers that fall in the winter.  The two cities that I have explored so far, Cairo and Luxor, are both cities that were built on the banks of the Nile River.   When you look at a map of Egypt you can see that all main Egyptian cities can be found along the Nile.  It is the water of the river that provides life to the plants, animals and people of Egypt.  Without fresh, clean water, there can be no life. 

Cairo along the Nile.  Look at the rows of buildings.

The river is important in another way too.  In ancient times people would use the Nile as a highway and travel around Egypt on their boats.  Without the Nile it would be hard to get around Egypt quickly.  You would have to ride a camel, or use a horse, but in the scorching sun that could be unbearable.  You can still see people drifting along the Nile on their boats today.

 A boat sailing along as the sun sets over the Nile in the city of Luxor. 

Think back to all the places I have visited so far and look at them on a map.  Are any of these other places near water? (Remember: Reykjavik, London, Istanbul, Athens)