Critics charge that building the Aswan Dam was unwise. The project was far more expensive than expected. Further, the annual floods carried silt, which created the topsoil needed for plants. Since the creation of the Aswan Dam , the farms on the formerly flooded banks have had to use expensive fertilizers in place of the silt. Fish have fed on the silt and the people downstream have depended on fishing from the muddy river filled with silt.
Many people continue to debate the issue today.
We have made many changes to the land that have created both benefits and new challenges. Make your decision based on what you have learned. You will be asked to respond to this question on the test. To learn more about the importance of the Nile River to Egypt, go to Mr. Dowling's Ancient Egypt page. All rights reserved.