01-Rivers and Life: The Nile

From the beginning of history, the Nile has been the lifeblood of one of the greatest civilizations on earth.

Its waters have flowed at the feet of Cleopatra, Joseph and Moses, the Crusaders, and the pharaohs of ancient Egypt. ​

All have bathed in this stream.

The Egyptians have always believed this river to be their own exclusive gift from the Gods and up until recently, it was allowed to flow unhindered to their lands.

But now, all this is set to change.

Upstream Ethiopia is busy building dams which threaten to cut off Egypt's water supply at the source. ​

Many of the wars of the 20th century were about oil.

But wars of the 21st will be over water, with the Nile, the longest river in the world, at the center of the conflict.

Fresh running water has always been the lifeblood of our world but is now more precious than ever.

Over the next 20 years, the amount of water available to everyone is expected to decrease by a third.