Elephantine Island
This island, shaped like an elephant s tusk, is home of a famous Nilometer, a structure that measures the Nile s water level during the flood season. Visit the Aswan Museum, featuring many artifacts from predynastic times.
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Unfinished Obelisk
Located at the East Bank this is the largest known ancient obelisk, created by an unknown pharaoh. It is carved directly out of bedrock and if finished, would have stood about 137 feet tall and weighed almost 1200 tons. The project was abandoned due to cracks appearing in the granite. This unfinished obelisk offers us some insight into the stone-working techniques of the ancient Egyptians as marks made by the workers are still clearly visible.
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Tombs of the Nobles
Located on the West Bank, these hills contain many tombs of princes from the Old Kingdom. Climb to the top of the hill to Qubbet el-Hawa, where a small tomb is located, for a sweeping view of Aswan, the Nile River, and its surroundings.
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The High Dam
The Aswan High Dam was completed in 1970 and was built to control the annual flooding of the Nile River. The reservoir, named Lake Nasser, forced many people to relocate during its creation. In addition, many ancient structures were also relocated, including the twin temples of Abu Simbel.
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