New Valley Project
Encyclopedia
The New Valley Project (Toshka project) consists of building a system of canals to carry water from Lake Nasser
to irrigate
the sandy wastes of the Western Desert of Egypt
, which is part of the Sahara Desert. In 1997 the Egyptian government decided to develop a "new" valley (in addition to the Nile Valley) where agricultural and industrial communities could be developed. It is an ambitious project, that if successful, should help Egypt deal with its rapidly growing population. If the project fails it will exacerbate problems of allocating the scarce waters of the Nile
.
The canal inlet starts from a site lying 8 km to the north of Toshka Bay (Khor) on Lake Nasser. The canal continues westward until it reaches Darb el-Arbe'ien route, then moves northward along Darb el- Arbe'ien to the Baris Oasis
, covering a distance of 310 km. The Mubarak Pumping Station in Toshka is the centerpiece of the project and was inaugurated in March 2005. It pumps water from Lake Nasser to be transported by way of a canal through the valley, transforming 2340 km² (588,000 acres) of desert into agricultural land. When the Toshka Project is completed in 2020, the valley is projected to become home to more than three million residents and to increase Egypt's arable land area by 10%.
The Toshka Lakes
are a by-product of the rising level of Lake Nasser
and lie in the same general region as much of the New Valley Project.
Lake Nasser
Lake Nasser is a vast reservoir in southern Egypt, and northern Sudan, and is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world. Strictly, "Lake Nasser" refers only to the much larger portion of the lake that is in Egyptian territory , with the Sudanese preferring to call their smaller body of water...
to irrigate
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
the sandy wastes of the Western Desert of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, which is part of the Sahara Desert. In 1997 the Egyptian government decided to develop a "new" valley (in addition to the Nile Valley) where agricultural and industrial communities could be developed. It is an ambitious project, that if successful, should help Egypt deal with its rapidly growing population. If the project fails it will exacerbate problems of allocating the scarce waters of the Nile
Nile
The Nile is a major north-flowing river in North Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. It is long. It runs through the ten countries of Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Egypt.The Nile has two major...
.
The canal inlet starts from a site lying 8 km to the north of Toshka Bay (Khor) on Lake Nasser. The canal continues westward until it reaches Darb el-Arbe'ien route, then moves northward along Darb el- Arbe'ien to the Baris Oasis
Baris
Baris can refer to:* Baris, an ancient Lydian city on the site of modern Isparta, Turkey* Baris , a true weevil genus* Baris , a Balinese dance* Baris, Egypt, an oasis in Egypt* Barış, a Turkish name, meaning "Peace"...
, covering a distance of 310 km. The Mubarak Pumping Station in Toshka is the centerpiece of the project and was inaugurated in March 2005. It pumps water from Lake Nasser to be transported by way of a canal through the valley, transforming 2340 km² (588,000 acres) of desert into agricultural land. When the Toshka Project is completed in 2020, the valley is projected to become home to more than three million residents and to increase Egypt's arable land area by 10%.
The Toshka Lakes
Toshka Lakes
Toshka Lakes is the name given to recently formed endorheic lakes in the Sahara Desert of Egypt.-History:The Aswan High Dam, constructed in Egypt in 1964-1968, created Lake Nasser, with a maximum water level of above sea level...
are a by-product of the rising level of Lake Nasser
Lake Nasser
Lake Nasser is a vast reservoir in southern Egypt, and northern Sudan, and is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world. Strictly, "Lake Nasser" refers only to the much larger portion of the lake that is in Egyptian territory , with the Sudanese preferring to call their smaller body of water...
and lie in the same general region as much of the New Valley Project.