Aswan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Aswan أسوان  (Arabic) Ⲥⲟⲩⲁⲛ  (Coptic)
City
From top left: Aerial view of the city, Philae temple complex, Aswan High Dam, view of the city from the Nile, El Khattaya bridge, a resort in the city, Monastery of St. Simeon
Aswan Location in Egypt
Country	Egypt
Governorate	Aswan
Area
• Total	375 km2 (145 sq mi)
Elevation	194 m (636 ft)
Population  (2021)
• Total	379,774
• Density	1,012.7/km2 (2,623/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EST)
Area code(s)	(+20) 97
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name: Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae
Type:	Cultural
Criteria:	i, iii, vi
Designated:	1979 (3rd session)
Reference #:	89
Region:	Egyptian Governorates, Northern Africa, African Union

Aswan is a city in Southern Egypt. It is the capital of the Aswan Governorate. The city is a busy place for markets and tourists. It is located on the east bank of the Nile River, just north of the Aswan Dam. Aswan is also near the first cataract (rocky rapids) of the Nile.

The modern city has grown to include the island of Elephantine. This island used to be a separate community. Aswan is home to five important sites that are part of the Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae UNESCO World Heritage Site. These include ancient tombs, the town of Elephantine, stone quarries, and the Unfinished Obelisk. The city's Nubian Museum is also a key place for history. It holds many items found before the Aswan Dam was built.

Aswan is part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for its crafts and folk art. It also joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2017.

Aswan's Names and History

Aswan was once called Swenett in ancient times. Later, it was known as Syene. This city was the southern border town of Ancient Egypt. Some believe its name came from an Egyptian goddess named Swenett. This goddess was linked to childbirth. The ancient name might also come from the Egyptian word for "trade" or "market."

The Ancient Egyptians thought of the Nile River as starting in the south. Since Swenett was the southernmost town, they believed Egypt "opened" or began there. The city was on a piece of land on the east bank of the Nile. It was just below the first cataract, which stretched from Philae. This location allowed boats to travel to the Nile delta without problems.

Famous Stone Quarries

The stone quarries of ancient Egypt near Aswan were very famous. They provided a special stone called syenite. This stone was used for huge statues, obelisks, and temples found all over Egypt, even for the pyramids. You can still see marks from the quarry workers who were there 3,000 years ago. These quarries are on both sides of the Nile. A road about 6.5 kilometers (4 miles) long was built from Syene to Philae for transport.

A Military and Trade Hub

Swenett was also important as a military base and a trade route. It was a garrison town under every ruler. Taxes were collected here from all boats traveling north and south. Around 330 AD, a bishop was sent from Alexandria to the Roman soldiers stationed here. This later became a Coptic Christian area. Many ancient writers, like Herodotus and Strabo, mentioned the city. It might even be in the Book of Ezekiel and the Book of Isaiah in the Bible.

View from the west bank of the Nile, islands, and Aswan

The Nile River is about 650 meters (2,130 feet) wide above Aswan. From Aswan to the northern end of Egypt, the river flows for more than 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) without any rapids or barriers. A trip from Aswan to Alexandria usually took 21 to 28 days in good weather.

Recent Discoveries in Aswan

Archaeologists have made exciting discoveries in Aswan.

Roman Emperor's Head

In April 2018, the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities found the head of a statue of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. This was found at the Temple of Kom Ombo. Workers were trying to protect the site from groundwater when they made the discovery.

Ancient Sphinx Statue

In September 2018, a sandstone sphinx statue was found at the Kom Ombo temple. It was about 28 cm (11 inches) wide and 38 cm (15 inches) high. Experts believe it dates back to the Ptolemaic Dynasty.

Mummified Remains

In 2019, archaeologists found 35 mummified bodies in a tomb in Aswan. These were ancient Egyptians, including men, women, and children. The tomb dates back to the Greco-Roman period (332 BC to 395 AD). Some mummies, like a mother and child, were well preserved. Others were badly damaged.

Along with the mummies, they found painted masks, vases used for mummification, pottery, and wooden figures. Hieroglyphs on the tomb showed it belonged to a tradesman named Tjit. This discovery helps us learn more about people who lived in Aswan during the late Pharaonic era. Aswan was a very important trading city on Egypt's southern border.

Ancient Engravings

In 2012, researchers found ancient rock carvings at Nag el-Hamdulab in Aswan. These carvings show a boat parade and symbols of the sun. They also include the earliest known picture of the White Crown, a symbol of ancient Egyptian kings. These carvings are thought to be from between 3200 BC and 3100 BC.

New Temple and Fort

In February 2021, archaeologists announced major finds at Shiha Fort in Aswan. They discovered a temple from the Ptolemaic period, a Roman fort, and an early Coptic church. They also found an inscription in hieratic writing. The temple had palm leaf carvings and a stone panel describing a Roman emperor. The church contained ovens for pottery, rooms, a long hall, and stairs.

Aswan's Geography and Climate

Aswan is located at a special point on Earth.

Tropic of Cancer Location

The city of Aswan is very close to the Tropic of Cancer. Ancient geographers and mathematicians were very interested in this. They believed that on the day of the summer solstice (the longest day of the year), a stick placed straight up would cast no shadow. They also noted that the sun's light would shine directly into a deep well at noon.

This is mostly true. On the summer solstice, the shadow was so small it was hard to see. More than 2,200 years ago, a Greek thinker named Eratosthenes used this information. He used it to calculate the size of the Earth.

A Hot Desert Climate

Aswan has a hot desert climate. This is typical for most of Egypt. Aswan and Luxor have the hottest summer days in Egypt. Aswan is one of the hottest, sunniest, and driest cities in the world.

Temperatures

In summer (June, July, August, and September), average high temperatures are usually above 40°C (104°F). Average low temperatures stay above 25°C (77°F). Even in the coldest month, average high temperatures are above 23°C (73°F). Average low temperatures stay above 8°C (46°F). Summers are very long and extremely hot with bright sunshine. However, the desert heat is dry. Winters are short and mild, but nights can sometimes be cool.

Rainfall and Humidity

Aswan's climate is extremely dry all year. It gets less than 1 millimeter (0.04 inches) of rain on average each year. It is one of the driest cities in the world. Sometimes, it doesn't rain for several years. For example, in early 2001, the last rain in Aswan had been seven years before. When heavy rain does happen, like a storm in November 2021, it can cause flash floods. These floods can even drive scorpions out of their hiding places, which can be dangerous.

Aswan is also one of the least humid cities on Earth. The average humidity is only 26%. It is highest in winter (42%) and lowest in summer (16%).

Sunshine

The weather in Aswan is very clear, bright, and sunny all year. There isn't much change between seasons. The city gets almost 4,000 hours of sunshine each year. This is very close to the most sunshine possible. Aswan is truly one of the sunniest places on Earth.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Aswan was 51°C (123.8°F) on July 4, 1918. The lowest was -2.4°C (27.7°F) on January 6, 1989.

Education in Aswan

Aswan has its own university, Aswan University, which opened in 2012. The city is also home to the Aswan Higher Institute of Social Work, which was started in 1975.

Getting Around Aswan

Aswan is an important transport hub.

Roads

The city is on the Cape to Cairo Road. This road connects Aswan to Luxor and Cairo in the north. To the south, it links to Abu Simbel and Wadi Halfa. Another key road is the Aswan-Berenice highway. This road connects Aswan to ports on the Red Sea.

Railways

Aswan is connected to Cairo by the Cape to Cairo Railway. This railway also goes south to Wadi Halfa. However, the railway line is not yet complete further south.

Other Transport

Other important transport places include the Port of Aswan. This is the biggest river port in the area. There is also the Aswan International Airport for air travel.

Aswan's International Connections

Sister Cities

Aswan is a sister city with:

• Sonoma, California, United States

Gallery

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  Archangel Michael's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, built in the Coptic style

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  El-Tabia Mosque in Aswan

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  The Lotus-Tower near Aswan, a monument to Arab-Soviet Friendship. It is near the Aswan High Dam.

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  Nubia Museum entrance

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  Fatimid Cemetery

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  Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan

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  A street parallel to Corniche in Aswan

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  Aswan Bridge

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  Aswan Botanical Garden

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  Aswan souq

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  Market in Aswan

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  Aswan station

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  Gharb Seheil

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  Nubian village in Elephantine Island

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  Qubbet el-Hawa

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  River Nile in Aswan

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  Feluccas in Aswan

See also

In Spanish: Asuán para niños