The Secret Behind River Nile’s Ability To Flow In The Same Direction For Over 30 Million Years Has Been Revealed- Uganda Safari News

The Secret Behind River Nile’s Ability To Flow In The Same Direction For Over 30 Million Years Has Been Revealed.

Besides being the known as the longest river in the world, River Nile has continued to captivate the hearts and minds of historians, scientists and Egyptologists alike given the role it has played throughout the various human civilizations that have graced this planet. Just like it was important during the ancient Egyptian times of the pharaohs, its still very much important to modern Egypt with almost over half of Egyptian population settling in areas that are drained by the Nile basin since the Nile is literally the only substantial source of freshwater they have in this second most populated country on the African continent.

Now for over 30 millions years, without changing an inch, the Nile has been able to keep doing what it does best, which is providing a consistent source of water which is used for an array of things beginning from irrigation, to transport and providing natural fertilizers(black silt) that has helped in feeding Egypt throughout all the ages and even provide a place to mighty pharaohs to come to and relax as they reflect and ponder on how best to lead this great civilization or country as of today.

For quite a long time scientists have been puzzled by how this glorious river has managed to do without having a shift in the direction of its water flow just like many other rivers of its calibre and stature. However, from the look of things, the wait is seemingly coming to an end given the results of the latest study that has been conducted on the mighty river Nile.

This latest study also presents a solution to a long-standing mystery about the river Nile: why it hasn’t shifted in position and changed course over time, as is typically the case with rivers of this size and heritage.

The new study argues that there’s a conveyor-belt-like section of mantle rotating underneath the Nile – a convection cell – which has kept the river in place, and shows that it’s been running through the same region for tens of millions of years.

While the 30-million-year hypothesis isn’t a completely new one, this latest study does present new evidence for it, including new geological modelling, and the matching of volcanic rock from the highlands of Ethiopia to the rest of the Nile delta.

Shifts in the Earth’s mantle are responsible for the Ethiopian highlands emerging, the study proposes. This gentle drop of 1.5 kilometres (almost a mile) in height by the time the Nile reaches the Mediterranean has kept the river on course for so long.

Without this geological setup, the Nile would’ve long ago shifted direction towards the west. That of course would have had a profound effect on the history of human civilisation as well – so important has the Nile been to North Africa and the Middle East.

Besides offering up evidence that the Nile has been flowing in its current direction for 30 million years, the new study also serves up new information on how the movement of the deep mantle under the Earth’s surface can affect what happens on the ground, and how rivers could give us clues to what’s happening way down underneath.

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Did you know that Uganda is home to the source of this mighty river?

Yes the Nile has its source in Uganda the beautiful pearl of Africa and its from Uganda, where the Nile embarks on its remarkable 6650km or 4132km odyssey all the way to the Mediterranean sea where it finally pours its waters hence making it the longest river on the planet crossing traversing 5 countries (Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia and finally crossing Egypt).

The conquest to discover the source of the Nile.

For over a thousand years, many European monarchies and the Egyptians were intrigued by the idea of knowing where this beautiful water drew all it water which could sustain it flowing endlessly for eternity. Given the fact that this river emanated from southern Egypt and beyond, in a place which was considered dark given the lack of information and poor means of transport into the interior of Africa, the source of Nile was left to be settled by speculations and theories that were advanced by numerous scholars.

One of the most famous schools of thoughts about the source of the Nile was advanced by a classical geographer named Plotemy who proposed that the Nile drew its water from a huge mountain deep in the interior of Africa which he named mountains of the moon. Although Ptolemy didn’t hit the “bulls-eye”, he wasn’t entirely wrong about this mountain because the mountain does exist and its none other than Mountain Rwenzori which can be visited on a Uganda safari to Mountain Rwenzori National Park. Although mountain Rwenzori isn’t the source of the Nile buts its part of the wider lake Victoria catchment area as it is a source of water to numerous small rivers that ultimately have their water poured into have their water into Lake Victoria which is the actual source of the Nile.

The European discovery of the source of the Nile

It wasn’t up until the 19^th century when the colonialism had started taking shape that many of these wealthy empires and kingdoms funded exploration missions down the river in a bid to discover this source and their quest was successful in 1858 when John Speke together with his friend Richard Burton sponsored by the Royal Geographical Society finally made it to Buganda kingdom and were later taken to what the locals called “Nyanja Nalubaale” which they was the actual source of the Nile. He then baptized this lake Lake Victoria after Queen Victoria the then Queen of England. The Baganda named this lake “Nalubaale” because they believed it was a home to their small gods called “lubaale”.

Adventure to the source of the Nile

If you’re an ardent fan of extreme sports, well, all you need in a Uganda safari to Jinja the blood boiling capital of extreme water sports in Africa that will surely get you thrilled on your epic Uganda safari tour adventure. Good enough, a Uganda tour to Jinja town can be done within a single day using any of our any of wide our fleet of cars for hire in Uganda such as super customs for hire in Uganda, 4×4 safari vans for hire in Uganda, buses for hire in Uganda, 4×4 safari land cruisers for hire in Uganda or 4×4 safari jeeps for hire in Uganda. This makes it so convenient for all visitors to this beautiful land of magical Africa wildlife safari experiences. While on a Jinja source of the Nile tour, some of the activities you can engage in include bungee jumping, white water rafting, horse riding, quad biking and kayaking

Uganda beyond river Nile

Besides the Nile and extreme sports, an Africa safari to Uganda has got still so much to offer given the diversity of attractions that exist in this small country that’s not larger than great Britain that range from beautiful wildlife, landscapes, cultures, weather and purely tasty organic food and fruits that will always leave your tongue wagging for more after every bite.

Uganda the land of apes

To primatologists and any other person who is intrigued by these wild cousins of ours, Uganda isn’t only the Pearl of Africa as many of us know it to be but also is truly the home of primates and this is because Uganda is home to over 13 primate species a number that isn’t easily found elsewhere on the planet. Are you on a search for mountain gorillas? If you’re then, get your bags ready and make that Uganda safari tour because Uganda is home to these elusive mountain gorillas which are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. These gentle giants in Uganda almost constitute half of the world’s gorilla population which is currently standing at around 1000 individuals.

When you make your Uganda safari to this pearl of Africa, you will come to realize that mountain gorillas are just a part of what really Uganda has to offer. Uganda still has more attractions you will encounter in case you decide to make a Uganda wildlife safari. After a really spectacular encounter with the gorillas, Uganda gives you an opportunity to meet another great ape species and this is the chimpanzee. With a safari Uganda to Kibale Forest National Park Uganda, you are assured for a memorable encounter with the chimpanzees that will definitely fascinate you with their high levels of intelligence. However, as you search for the chimpanzees in Kibale you have an opportunity to meet 12 other primate species and these include the black and white colobus monkeys, the grey-cheeked mangabeys, the l’hoest monkeys, the olive baboons, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, pattas monkeys and others

Uganda the home of birds

Birds, when you speak of birds in Africa, Uganda should be your first priority because a Uganda birding safari is to any of the numerous birding safari destinations in Uganda such as Semuliki National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidpeo Valley National Park and Kibale National Park is a totally unique experience that gives you an opportunity to encounter several of the 1070 bird species that call Dear Uganda home. This makes Uganda home to over 50% of all the bird species that are found on the African continent.

Wild mammals

If you are looking for wild mammals, a Uganda wildlife safari to some of Uganda wildlife safaris destinations such as Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park will give you an encounter with some of the finest African savanna mammals like you have never seen before. Many of these destinations have 4 or 5 out of the big five Africa game which include African bush elephants, cape buffaloes, lions, leopards and rhinos. On top of these expect to encounter numerous other mammals such as Roth child giraffes, Burchell zebras, elands, Jackson hartebeests, topis, and wide variety antelopes.

Uganda a hiking destination with less crowds

If you are a person with a big appetite for scaling mountains, Uganda offers you the best opportunity to engage in an epic Rwenzori hiking safari experience with minimal crowds. Uganda is home to 2 towering mountains which are Rwenzori mountain in Mountain Rwenzori National Park and this is the 3^rd highest mountain on the African continent with an elevation of 5109m, Mountain Elgon at 4321m above sea level, 3 of the 8 Virunga ranges found in Uganda and the forever intriguing Kigezi highlands will excite you on your Uganda safari to Kabale district.

Would you like to have an encounter with any of these attractions in Uganda? Feel free to check out our website which ultimately gives a preview of some of our safari in Uganda packages that have been designed to lead you on an adventure to various parts of the country giving you unlimited access to the best of Africa safari attractions in Uganda. Uganda gorilla safaris packages are designed to give you an encounter with the magical gorillas while Uganda wildlife safari packages cater for those that are interested in epic Uganda savanna wildlife as well as culture and birds.

Regardless of your intended length of your stay in Uganda for a Uganda wildlife tour or Uganda gorilla tours experience, we’ve got you covered with our wide range of packages which include short Uganda wildlife safaris, these run from as low 2 days Uganda safari to Lake Mburo or 2 days Uganda wildlife tour to Queen Elizabeth. Long Uganda wildlife safaris, these run from 5 days to 18 days

For those on a Uganda gorilla trekking safari adventure we also have short Uganda gorilla tours that begin with a 3 days Uganda gorilla safari to Bwindi or a 4 days Bwindi gorilla safari and wildlife to Queen Elizabeth to long gorilla trekking Uganda tours that go to start from 6 days to 18 days for example 6 Days Uganda gorilla safari with chimpanzees. You can also try out our other signature Africa safaris that run through other Africa destinations such as Rwanda, Congo, Kenya and Tanzania and these include Rwanda gorilla safaris and these feature short Rwanda gorilla safaris as well as Long Rwanda gorilla safaris. Kenya wildlife safaris also feature both short Kenya wildlife safaris and Long Kenya wildlife safaris. Tanzania wildlife safaris and Congo gorilla and wildlife safaris have also been featured on this website.