| pros | cons |
| 1. Increased water supply in Egypt.
2. The dam is a source of half of the hydroelectric power in Egypt. 3. Since the construction of the dam, the Nile River is much easier to navigate. 4. The land reclamation process is now easier. 5. From the construction of the dam, new industries have come up. 6. The construction of the dam has helped control flooding from river Nile. 7. The dam created an excellent source of water for irrigation. |
1. The construction of the dam led to the relocation of more than a million people.
2. During its construction, most of the archeological sites were relocated while others could not be accessed. 3. The dam has brought about the erosion of the coastline. 4. The dam has reversed agricultural impact by changing how the sediments flow in the Mediterranean. 5. The marine life such as the sardines in the Mediterranean reduced by 50%, thus, affecting the livelihood of the fishermen. |
The Aswan high dam in Egypt created a lot of positive impact on the community and the agriculture in the country. First, the dam has generated income-earning opportunities in the neighboring community, thus, allowing people to lead sustainable livelihoods. Income opportunities also translate to revenue to the government through taxes. The employment opportunities created by the dam has helped the economy of Egypt since its construction. The construction of the dam gave rise to other industries which also translated to employment opportunities, thus, more revenue.
Second, the construction of the dam has helped in controlling the flooding of the river Nile, which used to occur annually. This is done by regulating the flow of water in the river and collecting the water. Controlling of floods has protected a lot of villages from damages and fostered stability. The water that is collected from the floods is redirected to agricultural use in irrigation rather than wastefully flowing to the Mediterranean Sea. This has advantaged Egypt as a country by increasing its agricultural yields as compared to before the dam was constructed. Similarly, the dam has resulted in easy access and a constant supply of water. During the drought season, the reservoir helps maintain a constant supply of water.
Half of the hydroelectric power consumed in Egypt is harnessed from the Aswan high dam. Electricity is an important resource in ensuring sustainable development in a country. The dam has contributed to the rapid development of Egypt by ensuring the availability of electricity. Additionally, the country can use the money that would have been used to import electricity on other major development projects.
The construction of the dam also helped in controlling the flow of water in the river Nile, thus, allowing for easy navigation. The easy navigation has greatly benefitted the tourism industry by allowing tourists to visit several monuments along the river. This has not only created job opportunities for the people but has also provided revenue for the government. Similarly, the navigation has brought a positive impact on the fishing industries. The fishermen can easily access the breeding grounds, thus, creating income and improving the people’s livelihood.
One of the industries that have been greatly impacted by the high dam is agriculture. Although 96% of Egypt’s land is a desert, agriculture remains an important sector in the Egyptian economy. The agricultural industry in Egypt contributes to nearly one-seven of the gross domestic product and takes up a quarter of the labor force. The construction of the dam made it possible to reclaim most of the land by enabling irrigation processes that have helped the agricultural industry.
Indeed, the benefits that resulted from the construction of the Aswan dam in Egypt outweigh its costs. The dam has contributed to the economy of Egypt and improved the livelihoods for the individuals. Even though several cons are associated with the dam, its construction has been of great value to both the community and the environment.
