Nearshore Coastal Changes Along the Nile Delta Shores

Abstract

The Nile Delta coast is a dynamic system formed by the Nile River sediments discharged into the Mediterranean Sea through the historic seven branches of the Nile. The central headland at Burullus began to erode around the 10th century upon abandonment of the old Nile branch which had been providing sediment to this area. Commencing in the early 20th century the nine barrages along the main river were constructed which initiated a general erosional trend along the Nile Delta with concentrations around the Rosetta and Damietta promontories. This alarming erosion has been aggravated since the erection of the Aswan High Dam in 1964, which trapped essentially all of the flood sediments in its storage basin.