If you want to know about the Blue Nile River, then keep reading this article. After reading this piece of writing, you will get amazing facts about the river. Because, in this article, I have explained the geography, dimensions, grand Ethiopian Renaissance dam, the Blue Nile Falls, the Bahir Dar town, the reason for the word Blue, and many more of the river.
So, without further waiting, let’s get into the details of the river.
Geography and Dimensions of the Blue Nile River
The river originates near Tana Lake, Ethiopia, and ends in the Mediterranean Sea, in northern Egypt. The total length of the Blue River Nile is 1450 kilometers. Its total discharge is 2349 cubic meters per second. The mouth of the river is Blue Nile Falls and the sources are Lake Tana, AL MK Nemer Bridge, and lesser Abay River.
The bridge that is constructed on the river is known as the City Bridge. The cities which are associated with the river are Er Roseires, Khartoum, Alexandria, Gish Abay, and Dinner. The river is related to Sudan and Ethiopia.
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
This dam is under construction on the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia. The construction began far in 2011. It is a gravity dam that works on concrete and is a roller compact. The height of the dam is 476 feet or 145 meters. The total length of the dam is 5840 feet or 1780 meters. Earlier this dam was called the millennium dam and Hidase Dam but now its name is Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam or GERD.
The basic goal of the construction of this dam is the power generation. It will resolve the problem of energy shortage in Ethiopia. This dam will also export electricity to neighboring countries.
Why did The River call As Blue?
In times of summer monsoons, from the uplands of Ethiopia, the fertile surface of the land almost erodes. The eroded land, in the form of silt, is carried away by the Blue Nile. So, it results in a dark, mostly black look giving it the name Blue or the Blue Nile.
The Blue Nile Falls and the Bahir Dar Town
There are many tourist spots in Ethiopia but the Blue Nile Falls is at the top of that list. The falls are also known as the Tis Abay which means ‘great smoke’. The water falls down from 42 meters of height and on reaching the surface it blasts in mist clouds. It is situated in Bahir Dar town. The distance of the Blue Nile from the town of Bahir Dar is about 35 kilometers or 22 miles.
The town itself is a tourist spot and good to explore. So, if you want to visit the falls, you can approach this spot through Bahir Dar town, as it is the starting point of the falls. The Bahir Dar town portrays the cultural and religious history of the country. The town holds about 37 monasteries 4-5 hundred years old.
Conclusion
To conclude, the Blue Nile River is a river that exists in Ethiopia and Egypt. The river originates in Ethiopia and ends in Egypt. Its total length is 1450 kilometers. The bridge associated with the river is the City Bridge. The dam which is under construction on the river is famous as the Grand Ethiopian renaissance dam or GERD.
The river has a beautiful tourist spot the Blue Nile Falls and Bahir Dar town. Both places are worth exploring. Also, the word Blue in the name of the river has its reason which I have explained in the above text. I hope, after having read this article, you would have got some knowledge about the Blue Nile River.