The Nile Delta in Egypt occupies the region where the Nile disperses into the Mediterranean Sea, a little downriver from the capital city of Cairo. One of the largest deltas in the world, it covers an area that is about 160 kilometers long from north to south and 240 kilometers west to east along the coast.
The Nile Delta region is home to approximately 40 million people, half the population of Egypt. The largest city in the Nile Delta is Alexandria which contains 10 percent of the Delta region's population. According to the World Resources Institute, the Nile Delta is one of the most densely inhabited areas on the planet.
The Nile Delta has been occupied for thousands of years and cultivated for at least 5,000 years. The Nile River once regularly flooded the delta on an annual basis, bringing in nutrient-rich deposits which helped keep the area fertile and ideal for farming until the Aswan Dam was built in the 20th century. According to ancient records, the Nile used to have seven tributaries, but now it only has two in order to control flooding in the area. In 1787, the famous Rosetta Stone was found in Rosetta, a coastal city in the Delta.
The Nile Delta has a typical Mediterranean climate, meaning rainfall is limited. The hottest part of the year is July and August, averaging about 85 degrees Fahrenheit and climbing to temperatures as high as 118 degrees Fahrenheit. In the winter, temperatures range from 55 to 66 degrees Fahrenheit, and this is the time of year when the area gets most of its rain, resulting in humidity.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, composed of scientists from more than 130 countries around the world, the sea level around the Nile Delta has been rising an average of 1.7 millimeters every year during the 20th century. It's predicted that the level could rise 1-3 meters during the 21st century. The study has resulted in the proposition of plans and projects to protect the region.
