Aswan Dam in History

Muhammad Ali transfers Egypt's modern military school to Aswan for officer training.

Daninos argues that the existing dam cannot provide sufficient long-term Nile storage.

Daninos develops a proposal for a much larger storage dam upstream of Aswan.

Daninos presents his large-dam proposal to Egypt's new revolutionary leadership.

Nasser supports technical examination of the proposed High Dam and its development benefits.

Nasser's government adopts construction of the High Dam as a national development priority.

Nasser negotiates with the World Bank, United States and Britain over project finance.

Nasser confronts withdrawal of American and British support for financing the High Dam.

Nasser's government loses the proposed American and British financing package for the High Dam.

Nasser presents Suez Canal income as a source of funding for national development projects.

Nasser nationalises the Suez Canal Company and links its revenues to financing national development.

Nasser announces nationalisation after Western financing for the High Dam is withdrawn.

Nasser links national control of canal revenues with financing the High Dam.

Nasser continues High Dam planning after Egypt emerges from the Suez conflict.

Osman's company secures major Egyptian construction responsibilities for the High Dam.

Nasser's government signs a Soviet credit agreement supporting the first construction phase.

Egypt requests international assistance to protect Nubian monuments threatened by the reservoir.

Nasser's government signs the agreement allocating Nile waters and enabling reservoir construction.

Osman mobilises Egyptian contractors, equipment and labour for the project.

Nasser's government plans relocation of communities threatened by the future reservoir.

Nasser marks the start of construction by initiating blasting at the project site.

Nasser inaugurates major construction work on the Aswan High Dam.

Nasser reviews excavation, diversion channels and foundation works during the first construction stage.

Osman's contractors advance the channels and tunnels needed to divert the Nile.

The government accelerates construction of replacement settlements for Egyptian Nubian communities.

Nasser's government cooperates with international teams relocating temples from the reservoir zone.

Osman's workforce helps complete the works closing the Nile's former channel.

Nasser attends the closure of the river channel and beginning of reservoir storage.

Nasser praises Egyptian and Soviet workers after the Nile diversion milestone.

Reservoir storage expands behind the dam and creates the lake later bearing Nasser's name.

Osman's contractors place rock and earth for the High Dam's immense embankment.

Nasser's government prepares to use regulated releases for year-round irrigation.

The power station produces its first electricity during October 1967.

Egyptian contractors support transmission infrastructure carrying High Dam electricity northward.

The government begins full water storage as the dam approaches its final profile.

Additional turbines enter service and expand electricity supplied by the High Dam.

Egyptian construction teams complete major embankment and finishing works.

Sadat inherits an economy transformed by Nile regulation, hydroelectric power and public investment.

Sadat assumes the presidency after construction is completed and prepares the formal inauguration.

Sadat's administration prepares permanent operation of the completed dam and power station.

Nasser oversees completion of the main High Dam construction project.

The principal High Dam construction works are declared complete under Nasser.

Osman represents Egyptian contractors whose labour contributed to completing the project.

Sadat cuts the ceremonial ribbon during the official dedication of the High Dam.

Sadat formally inaugurates the High Dam with Soviet President Nikolai Podgorny.

The government develops commercial fishing in the reservoir created by the High Dam.

Sadat's government integrates High Dam generation into Egypt's expanding national electricity system.

Sadat's administration uses regulated releases to support irrigation and navigation.

Egypt supports transferring Philae's monuments to Agilkia Island above the reservoir waters.

UNESCO lists the rescued Nubian monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae as World Heritage.

Sadat and Begin settle practical arrangements for normal diplomatic and communications links.

Mubarak opens the Nubia Museum, preserving artefacts and memories from the flooded region.

Egypt commemorates fifty years since the High Dam's formal inauguration.