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by comrade
LONDON, United Kingdom
July 9, 2002
The easiest way to see the dam is to hire a taxi, which takes some 20 minutes or so from Aswan. The route passes over the Low Dam, but you’re not allowed to stop for photos.
Unlike dams in films, the High Dam slopes extremely shallowly, so you don’t get a real impression of the vast height difference between Lake Nasser and the cataract below - what you cannot fail to notice, however, is the sheer size of the dam. The views on either side, however, are agreeable rather than mind-blowing. There is also a large Soviet monument resembling a Lotus flower at one end to commemorate Russian assistance in the dam’s construction.
The High Dam can be seen on the way back from Abu Simbel or combined with a trip to the more diverting Philae Island. In short, you’ll want to be able to say you’ve been there, but it’s hardly a life-changing experience - go, but don’t expect too much.
From journal Aswan - a cultural tour