Aswan, the final frontier - Egypt

Special feature Egypt : Aswan, the final frontier

Considered as the most beautiful town on the Nile, Aswan is a privileged place; centuries of history, a legendary river and an immense desert. All cruises on Lake Nasser depart from the town, sailing for Abu Simbel or down the Nile in the direction of the temples of Luxor. Aswan has also been, for a relatively short while, the gateway to the White Desert with its mineral formations found nowhere else in the world. Situated at the first waterfall, a natural barrier impassable by boats, Aswan was the last frontier of the Egyptians, the last trace of civilization before Nubia, this empty, arid land populated by rebellious tribes. Still today, Aswan remains marked by this atmosphere, this mystery that envelopes the town poised at the crossroads of time and the middle of nowhere.

The mausoleum of Aga Khan III  

Contents

• 1

  Aswan, the final frontier

  
• 2

  The mausoleum of Aga Khan III

  
• 3

  The St. Simeon Monastery

  
• 4

  The two dams of Aswan

  
• 5

  The Nubian villages

  
• 6

  Traditional gatherings

  
• 7

  The Temple of Philae

  
• 8

  Aswan's natural reserve

  
• 9

  The souks

  
• 10

  Abu Simbel