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Why does the Nile river flow from south to north?

Question #123031. Asked by star_gazer.
Last updated Oct 07 2016.

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Rowena8482 star
Answer has 16 votes
Currently Best Answer
Rowena8482 star
17 year member
143 replies avatar

Answer has 16 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
The Nile flows north because north is downhill.

Rivers flow "downhill" to sea level (generally speaking; some end in other bodies of water or join another rver). They flow with gravity from a higher elevation to a lower.

The Nile rises on the western flank of the Great Rift Valley (many people consider Lake Victoria to be the source) and the Blue Nile joins the White Nile at Khartoum.

The land falls away towards the north, thus the river flows north until it reaches the Mediterranean Sea at the Nile Delta. Direction of flow of a river is determined by elevation of the drainage basin, not geographical (North, South etc.) direction.

link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nile#Course

Response last updated by Terry on Oct 07 2016.
Aug 14 2011, 1:28 PM
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