The world’s longest river is the Nile, at 6,825 km (4,238 miles) in length. It flows through 11 African countries, from Burundi to Egypt, where it meets the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile takes its name from the Greek for “river valley”.
The availability of water from the Nile throughout the year, combined with the area’s high temperatures, makes possible intensive cultivation along its banks. Even in some of the regions in which the average rainfall is sufficient for cultivation, marked annual variations in precipitation often make cultivation without irrigation risky.
The Nile River is also a vital waterway for transport, especially at times when motor transport is not feasible—e.g., during the flood season. Improvements in air, rail, and highway facilities beginning in the 20th century, however, greatly reduced dependency on the waterway.
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