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Aswan: Things To See & Do
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Aswan High Dam
This modern engineering
miracle (it is often ranked as one of the Wonders of the Modern World) was begun in the 1960s, to the accompaniment of much
controversy, and was designed to replace the original built at the end of the
eighteenth century. The huge dam created the Lake Nasser, a body of
water so
vast it has actually changed weather patterns in areas of Egypt,
bringing rain where it has never rained before. Whether you approve or
deplore the building of the dam, it is without doubt one of the most
significant constructions in the country, almost on par with the more
popular pyramids.
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Elephantine Island
This beautiful rocky island
in the middle of the Nile has long been the site of a major Ancient
Egyptian trading town, and is now home to a number of major historic and
religious sites, including the Temple of Khnum, the Temple of Satet and
the Kalabsha Temple. Though most of these are in ruins today, you can
find out more about them, and about the history of the island itself, at
the Elephantine Museum. The island is also home to the Nilometer, one of
only three on the Nile, and which was used to measure the water level of
the Nile as late as the nineteenth century
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The Nubian Museum
One of the best museums in
the world documenting the Nubians and their history and culture. Its
construction was especially important as much of the Nubian land was
submerged after the opening of the Aswan High Dam, and the museum was
specifically designed to document and preserve all the temples,
artifacts and social and cultural history that was lost in the flooding.
Details
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Opening Hrs:
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Open daily from
9am to 1pm and 6pm to 10pm
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Pricing:
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General
admission ticket is EGP35 |
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Temple of Horus at Edfu
Located 105 km north of
Aswan, the Edfu temple complex is one of the best preserved in Egypt,
and the second largest after Karnak. The temple was dedicated to Horus,
the god of the sun, whose statue can be seen throughout the temple.
Though somewhat less well-known when compared to Karnak, this temple is
particularly special because of its remarkably well preserved state - in
quiet moment, it feels as though you'll run into a pharaonic procession
just around a corner!
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