The Nile River

The longest river in the world, the Nile River runs through 10 different African nations. From the time of the ancient Egyptians to the present, this waterway has been called the giver of life to the people who live along its banks. They use it for farming, fishing, and even the production of electricity. Legends and mysteries surround the river. Men—and at least one woman—have devoted years of their lives to searching for its source. Today several countries want to control it. They may end up going to war over it. A few individuals even dispute its title of the longest river in the world.