The Nile, of course, is not a single river. It is formed from two main tributaries, the White and Blue Niles, which join at Khartoum, in Sudan. Although the Blue Nile is the shorter tributary, it contributes the majority of the water. Its source is in the highlands of Ethiopia, supposedly at a sacred spring near the town of Gish Abay. This site has been known to Europeans since a Spanish missionary, Pedro Paez, páez visited in. 1618
http://googlesightseeing.com/2009/09/the-source-of-the-nile/
The Blue Nile runs from Lake Tana's southeast corner, flowing south over a lava dam to form the Tisisat Falls-the name in Ethiopian means 'the water that smokes' - then flowing northwest to merge with the White Nile and form the full-fledged Nile itself.
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Lake_Tana_source_of_the_Blue_Nile
Although Lake Victoria is still often considered to be the source, the Nile can actually be traced back further, to the headwaters of the longest river flowing into the lake. It turns out that this is the Kagera River, and its remotest source was traced to the hills of Burundi by a German, Burckhard Waldecker, in 1934.
http://googlesightseeing.com/2009/09/the-source-of-the-nile/
In spite of these similarities, the Blue Nile gorge is the more intimidating feature. Within 30 km of its source at Lake Tana the river enters a canyon which it does not leave for 400 km. This gorge is a tremendous obstacle for travel and communication from the north half of Ethiopia to the southern half.
http://www.utdallas.edu/geosciences/remsens/Nile/BlueText.html
The Blue Nile is vital to the livelihood of Egypt. Almost 60% of the water that reaches Egypt originates from the Blue Nile branch of the great river. This water is a result of the monsoonal rains over Ethiopia.
http://www.utdallas.edu/geosciences/remsens/Nile/BlueText.html
Another possible name would be the Lost Nile. The traditional source of the Blue Nile is a spring which feeds the Little Abbai, a stream which flows NE into Lake Tana. Lake Tana itself lies at an elevation of a little over 1800 m and was formed when a young lava flow blocked the river, flooding a shallow depression.
http://www.utdallas.edu/geosciences/remsens/Nile/BlueText.html
Though it moves just a tiny fraction of the water carried by the Amazon, Congo, or Niger rivers, the Nile is the world’s longest river. Its main tributaries—the White Nile and the Blue Nile—meet in Khartoum, Sudan, a rain-poor city of nearly 2 million residents that relies on the Nile for irrigation. Well-watered crops line the river banks, and patchworks of croplands (including center-pivot irrigated fields) dot the city’s outskirts.
http://www.earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=81186
For centuries, the source of the mighty River Nile was shrouded in mystery in the dark heart of Africa.
http://googlesightseeing.com/2009/09/the-source-of-the-nile/
Compared to the White Nile, the Blue Nile is skinny and its highly variable flow is near its lowest point at this time of year. Harsh dry seasons and droughts can periodically dry out the Blue Nile completely. The White Nile and Blue Nile derive their colors from the sediments they carry. Originating in the Equatorial Lakes region, the White Nile is rich in light gray sediments. As this long river meanders over flat terrain, it loses over half of its water to evaporation.
http://www.earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=81186
Shorter than the White Nile, the Blue Nile starts in the highlands of Ethiopia and Eritrea, picking up black sediment en route to Khartoum. The Blue Nile is fed by monsoon rains, and when rains are abundant, the Blue Nile can actually flow backward near its confluence with the White Nile.
http://www.earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=81186
what is the source of the blue nile river
Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile River. Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile river.  