Overview
Built between 1960 and 1970 with Soviet engineering support, the Aswan High Dam is a colossal rock-fill structure 3.8km long and 111m tall. It created Lake Nasser, one of the largest artificial reservoirs in the world. The dam tamed the annual Nile flood and gave Egypt reliable irrigation, but it also threatened to submerge Nubian monuments like Abu Simbel and Philae - triggering UNESCO's famous relocation campaign. The viewing platform looks out over the vast expanse of Lake Nasser. Admission EGP 100. About 30 minutes by car from downtown Aswan.
Opening Hours
Daily 07:00-17:00
Travel Tips
Combine with Philae Temple or the Unfinished Obelisk for a half-day. Photography on the dam itself is restricted in security-sensitive areas - follow your guide.
Hotels near Aswan High Dam
Hotels and guesthouses in Aswan, Aswan, Aswan Governorate
Other attractions in Aswan
Abu Simbel Temples
Massive rock-cut temples built by Ramesses II and famously relocated as a UNESCO World Heritage rescue.
Philae Temple
A temple dedicated to the goddess Isis, famously relocated island and all because of the High Dam.
Nubian Village
Brightly painted Nubian houses line the Nile, offering a vibrant cultural experience.
Unfinished Obelisk
A 42-meter, 1,200-ton unfinished obelisk still lying in its ancient quarry.
Elephantine Island
An island in the middle of the Nile mixing ancient Nubian border-town ruins with living Nubian villages.
Kitchener's Island (Botanical Garden)
A small botanical garden island in the middle of the Nile filled with tropical plants and birdsong.