Aswan is the southern-most city in Egypt located 800 km south of Cairo at the first of six Nile cataracts. The city is an old commercial town and in ancient times was known under the name of Syene.

Since construction of the Aswan Dam the city has become an important industrial centre with steel, aluminium and chemical industries based on the electrical power drawn from the turbines of the Dam.

Nubian Crossing the Nile

During the winter season the city is a junction for tourist voyages on the Nile and the starting point for tours to the Abu Simpel temple. The climate is warm and dry all year long. During winter the daily temperatures reach 23