英语翻译
TheNilemadeEgypt’scivilizationpossible.Thisriverismorethan4,000mileslong.Initsfertilevalleycropsaregrownforfoodandcottonforclothing.Mudfromtheriverbottommakesgoodbricksforhouses.Thuswaysofgettingfood,clothing,andshelterwerecloseathandfortheEgyptians.Forthisreasontheyhadmoretimetothink,invent,andcreatethansomeotherPeopledid.
ShewatersoftheNileappeartohavedifferentcolors.OneofthemainsourcesoftheNileistheBlueNilewhichcomedownfromtheEthiopianmountains.Itisclearandbluemostofthetime.Atfloodtime,however,itbecomesreddishyellow.ItmeetstheWhiteNile,whichisgrayish---Greenincolor.Whenthefloodcomestheentireriverismuddyincolor.
TheNileisahighwayforthepeopleofEgypt.Flatbottomedboatsandlargenarrowbargescarryproducefromonecitytoanother.TherearealsopassengerboatsontheNile,carryingpeopleupanddowntheriver.Inancienttimeshugeblocksofstonewerefloateddowntheriverinbarges.Thesestoneswereusedinmakingbuildingandmonuments.
ForthousandsofyearstheEgyptianshavedependedupontheNilefortheircrops.ThelandonbothsidesoftheNileisdesert,wherecropscannotberaised,ButcropsgrowwellintheNileValley.Infact,severaldifferentcropsareoftenfrownonthesamelandduringtlesameyear.
OncetheNilefloodedeachyear,overfloweditsbanks,andcarriedrichsoilinlandeverysummer.Thesefloodswerecausedbyearlysummerrains,RainfallsheavilyintheEthiopianmountainsandhighlands,ThewaterfromtheserainsflowsdownintotheNileandincreasesitsvolume.Inthepast,theEgyptianslettheriveroverflowandspreadoutovertheland.
AtpresentthereisaseriesofdamsontheNile.Waterriseshighintherivereach.Summerasusual,ThepeopledonotlettheNileflood,however,theystorethewaterbehinddams.Itisnowpossibletousethewaterasneeded,notjustatfloodtime.TheAswanDamisthelargestone,morethantwomileslongandaboutl76feethigh.
TheEgyptiansleadthewateroftheNiletotheirfarmlandsindifferentways.Waterdrawnfrombehindthedamstillcomesfromtheriveritself.Canalsandditchesleadouttothefarms.Ifthewaterislow,itisoftenliftedbywaterliftingmachines.