1970day.year
After 11 years of construction, the Aswan High Dam in Egypt is completed.
The Aswan High Dam on the Nile in southern Egypt was completed in July 1970 after 11 years of construction.
The Aswan High Dam, one of the largest embankment dams in the world, was completed in July 1970 after 11 years of construction. It was designed to control flooding of the Nile River and to provide hydroelectric power and irrigation water year round. The project began in 1959 with support from the Soviet Union as a centerpiece of Egypt's modernization efforts. Its reservoir, Lake Nasser, stretches over 500 kilometers and required the relocation of more than 100,000 Nubian villagers to new settlements. The dam generates over 10 billion kilowatt hours of electricity annually, fueling industrial growth and urban development. However, trapping the annual silt flow has reduced downstream soil fertility and increased reliance on artificial fertilizers. Its massive concrete and rock fill structure transformed Egypt's economy but also raised environmental and social challenges. Today, the Aswan High Dam stands as a landmark of Cold War era engineering and a symbol of national pride.
1970
Aswan High Dam
Egypt