Abu Simbel was carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II in the 13th Century BC as a monumental to himself and queen Nefertari to commemorate his alleged victory at the Battle of Kadesh. To avoid the temples being submerged under the Nile when the Aswan High Dam was constructed the temples were raised 200 feet higher.
Aswan is located on the east bank of the Nile at the first cataract. It is a busy market and tourist center. The modern city has expanded and includes the formerly separate community on the island of Elephantine. Aswan is one of the driest inhabited places in the world; as of early 2001, the last rain there was seven years earlier. As of 6 April 2010, the last rainfall was a thunderstorm on May 13, 2006. In Nubian settlements, they generally do not bother to roof all of the rooms in their houses.
Name given by archeologists but Arabic and Coptics called it Anba Hatre who, 4th century, was a bishop of Aswan. Construction dates from the 6th or 7th century. Fearing attacks from Christian Nubians Saladin (Salah al-Din) in 1173 AD caused heavy damage. While in ruins many features are well preserved. The monastery can be reached by Camel 1 hour from Aswan.
When Egypt built the High Dam at Aswan in the 1960s UNESCO appealed to Egyptologists and Archeologists to save the monuments of Egyptian Nubia before the rising waters of Lake Nasser submerged them forever. More than sixty expeditions joined the "Nubian Rescue Campaign", which excavated and recorded hundreds of sites, the recovery of thousands of objects, and the salvage and translocation of a number of temples to higher ground. UNESCO was encouraged in the 1980's to plan a new Nubian museum in Aswan where the objects could be stored and exhibited. It was felt they should be kept as close as possible to their places of origin. Twelve years later, the Museum became a reality and opened its doors in November 1997. The total area of the complex is 50,000 square meters. The architecture of the Museum and the enclosure walls are intended to evoke traditional Nubian village architecture.
> Archangel Michael's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral
Archangel Michael's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral - is a stunning modern landmark and enjoys a beautiful setting next to the River Nile. Consecrated in 2006, the cathedral boasts a set of twin towers, elaborate stone carvings and many huge, arched windows, topped with a simple white dome. Despite its relative youth, the architecture of the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral is very traditional and once weathered will seem quite historical in its appearance.
The island was given to Lord Kitchener as a thank-you for his services in the Sudan Campaign (1896-1898). With the aid of the Ministry of Irrigation, Kitchener rapidly transformed the small, 750-meter-long island into a paradise of exotic trees and plants and carefully planned walkways. Now the property of the Egyptian government it was used as a research station for examining different food and cash crops. Today, a biological research station is present at the southern tip. Today the island is a botanical garden. It is popular with local people and tourists for weekend picnics or a quiet afternoon away from the noise of the city. It is reached by felucca, motorboat or local ferries.
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