The Nile is a major north-flowing river in Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world.

The northern section of the river flows almost entirely through desert, from Sudan into Egypt, a country whose civilization has depended on the river since ancient times.

Most of the population of Egypt and all of its cities, with the exception of those near the coast, lie along those parts of the Nile valley north of Aswan; and nearly all the cultural and historical sites of Ancient Egypt are found along the banks of the river.

The Nile ends in a large delta that empties into the Mediterranean Sea.

Origin Africa
Mouth Mediterranean Sea
Basin countries Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, DR Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Egypt
Length 6,695 km (4,180 mi)
Source elevation 1,134 m (3,721 ft)
Avg. discharge 2,830 m³/s (99,956 ft³/s)
Basin area 3,400,000 km² (1,312,740 mi²)