/tags/sail-nile-river.rss en-us A cruise down the Nile on a traditional Egyptian felucca (small wooded boat) is a treat that should not be missed in a country awash in historical fortunes. It is quintessential Egypt. Skimming across the surface of the Nile River as the sun sets over the Sahara Desert can create a perfect end to a day full of interesting experiences. The father of modern history, Herodotus, said that Ancient Egypt was the gift of the Nile. Without it, the fertile strip of land that runs through the heart of the country would probably be as dry as the Sahara Desert surrounding it, and the history that existed around it probably never would've happened. But instead, today, it is lined with a great many marvels of the ancient world. In a country full of treasures too dense to appreciate in one trip, a felucca cruise on the Nile should be a priority Egyptian travel experience. The Nile is the world's longest river and has been the source of Egypt's livelihood for many millennia. As you peacefully sail along one of the world's most famous rivers in the traditional felucca, ancient cities, temples thousands of years old, and (of course) the Great Pyramids line its river banks. The north-flowing Nile River runs through ten African countries, with headwaters as far away as Tanzania in the southern hemisphere, and empties into the Mediterranean Sea on the north side of Egypt. It is the product of the Blue and White Nile, which converge just outside the capital city of Khartoum in Sudan, and runs a total of 4,132 miles (6,650 km). In ancient Egyptian it means "Great River," and in Coptic it's translated as "The River." Whichever translation you prefer, the River Nile is a river of beauty and legends. Explorers have marvelled over it for centuries, filmmakers have chronicled it for decades, and today it is still used to transport goods throughout the continent as it was long ago in the days of Ancient Egypt. Thu, 14 Jan 2010 05:46:37 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/felucca-nile http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/felucca-nile