Where does the Nile River originate? A debate still open

The Nile River is the longest river in the world, stretching for 6,650 kilometres (4,130 miles) through eleven countries in Africa. It has been the subject of debate for centuries, with historians, geographers, and researchers trying to pinpoint its exact location of origin.

While some sources believe that the Nile River originates in Burundi, others argue that it begins in Rwanda or Ethiopia.

The origins of the Nile River have significant implications for economic and political relations between the countries through which it flows, making it a topic of great interest to researchers, historians, and policymakers.

Geography books try to quickly settle an issue that has always been puzzling in reality. The Nile is born from two tributaries: the Blue Nile from Ethiopia and the White Nile from the great African lakes, including Lake Victoria. But when you start to investigate African orography, you can see that the answer is not so simple.

Traditional Beliefs

According to traditional beliefs, the Nile River originates from Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa, located in present-day Uganda. However, some researchers believe that the Nile River is made up of two different rivers, the White Nile and the Blue Nile. The White Nile is the longer of the two rivers and begins at Lake Victoria, while the Blue Nile originates in Ethiopia.

The Nile River has a total length of 6,650 km (4,130 mi) and flows through eleven countries in Africa, including Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo-Kinshasa, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Egypt.

The river plays an important role in the lives of the people of these countries, providing a source of water for agriculture, transportation, and other economic activities.

The debate over the origins of the Nile River has been ongoing for several years. Some sources believe that the Nile River originates in Burundi, while others argue that it begins in Rwanda or Ethiopia. In recent years, some researchers have proposed new theories about the origins of the Nile River.

New Theories

In recent years, some researchers have proposed new theories about the origins of the Nile River. One theory suggests that the Nile River originates in the Nyungwe Forest in Rwanda. This theory is based on the fact that the Nile River is made up of several tributaries that converge in Lake Victoria.

One of these tributaries is the Kagera River, which rises in the Nyungwe forest in Rwanda. According to this theory, the Kagera River is the longest tributary of the Nile River, and thus the source of the Nile.

Another theory proposes that the Nile River originates in the Ethiopian Highlands. This theory is based on the fact that the Blue Nile, one of the main tributaries of the Nile River, originates in Ethiopia. The Blue Nile begins at Lake Tana, located in the Ethiopian Highlands, and runs through Sudan and Egypt before joining the White Nile at Khartoum.

The rivers that feed Lake Victoria

Today it is accepted that the Nile comes from these two sources: the White Nile and the Blue Nile. There is one more key to this story, and that is that the White Nile comes from the largest lake in Africa: the Victoria. 

And while it is often thought of as the main source of the Nile River, a closer look reveals that the issue is more complex than it appears. And it is that Lake Victoria is also fed by other rivers, some of them of considerable length and flow.

Among them are the Kagera River and the Semliki River, which emerge from the Ruwenzori Mountains of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Hence, in recent years the theory that the Nile is also fed by these two tributaries has been accepted as valid. 

In recent years, it has been confirmed that the Kagera River is the primary source of the Nile River. However, this river has two other sources that are also considered part of the Nile's origin. Therefore, it is now recognized that the Nile has at least two sources.

One of them originates in the Nyungwe rainforest, located in Rwanda's Western province, near the northern end of Lake Tanganyika. This source of the Kagera River is called the Rukarara River. The other source is located at the eastern end of the high mountains of southern Burundi, around 45 kilometers from Lake Tanganyika, and is known as the southern or southern source of the Nile.

Despite the increasing knowledge of this river, which has sustained the social and economic activities of generations of Egyptians, it is still a complex system of rivers and lakes that converge into one place. Therefore, the debate about the Nile's origin remains an ongoing discussion.

The Ethiopian Highlands Theory

The theory that the Nile River originates in the Ethiopian Highlands is also gaining popularity among researchers. The Blue Nile, one of the major tributaries of the Nile River, originates in Ethiopia. The Blue Nile begins at Lake Tana, located in the Ethiopian Highlands, and runs through Sudan and Egypt before joining the White Nile at Khartoum.

The Ethiopian Highlands theory is based on the fact that the Blue Nile contributes about 85% of the water that flows into the Nile River. Therefore, according to this theory, the Ethiopian Highlands are the main source of the Nile river.

The debate about the origins of the Nile River is not just a matter of historical or geographical interest. It also has significant implications for the economic and political relations between the countries through which the Nile River flows.

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