The Aswan High Dam, also simply known as the High Dam, is a roll-fill dam located on the Nile River in Aswan, Egypt. It was built between 1960 and 1970 and was officially inaugurated in 1971. The dam is one of the world’s largest embankment dams, and it has had a significant impact on Egypt’s economy and environment.

The dam was built to control the annual flooding of the Nile River, which had been a major source of both destruction and fertility for millennia. The flooding would often cause widespread damage to crops and property, but it also deposited rich silt on the land, which made it fertile. The dam has allowed Egypt to regulate the flow of the Nile, which has led to increased agricultural production and a more stable food supply.

The dam has also generated a significant amount of hydroelectric power for Egypt. The dam’s 12 turbines can generate 10 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, which has helped to meet the country’s growing energy needs.

However, the dam has also had some negative consequences. The construction of the dam displaced a large number of people, and the creation of Lake Nasser, the reservoir behind the dam, flooded a large area of land. The dam has also led to a decrease in the amount of silt that is deposited on the land, which has reduced soil fertility in some areas.