What is Aswan Low Dam?
[[File:Aswan low dam2.JPG|thumb|right|350px|Aswan Low Dam]] The '''Aswan Low Dam''' or '''Old Aswan Dam''' is a dam across the [[Nile River]] in [[Aswan]], [[Egypt]]. It is built of [[masonry]] and held in place just by [[gravity]]. It was the first dam across the Nile, and was built by the [[British]] between 1899 and 1902. When it was done, it was the largest masonry dam in the world. This type of dam is called a [[buttress]] dam. The dam was built at the former [[Cataracts of the Nile|first cataract]] of the Nile, and is about 1000&nbsp;km up-river and 690&nbsp;km (direct distance) south-southeast of [[Cairo]]. When initially constructed between 1899 and 1902, nothing of its scale had ever been attempted. The dam was designed to provide storage of annual floodwater. The water was used to help dry season flow and support more [[irrigation]].<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F40B11F93E5B13738DDDAE0A94DF405B838DF1D3 Power from the Assuan Dam to be used to increase still further the cotton crop in Egypt], [[The New York Times]], July 27, 1913, (pdf file)</ref> Its height was originally limited because of concern for the Temple of [[Isis]] at Phillae ([[Philae Temple]]). That temple was later moved to Agilkia Island in [[Lake Nasser]]. The dam provided inadequate storage capacity for planned development and was raised twice, between 1907–1912 and again 1929–1933. These heightenings still did not meet irrigation demands and in 1946 it was nearly over-topped by water in an effort to maximize pool elevation.<ref>{{cite web |title=The First Aswan Dam |url=http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/AncientNubia/PhotoIntro.html |publisher=University of Michigan |access-date=2 January 2011 |archive-date=15 June 1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970615204902/http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/AncientNubia/PhotoIntro.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> This eventually led to the construction of the [[Aswan High Dam]] {{Convert|6|km}} upstream. The second function of the dam is to pro