Egypt is developing the world's largest Artificial River that will significantly help agricultural production, a popular activity in the region for thousands of years..

A man-made river is a structure developed to “mimic” a natural river, and can be developed to address water shortages in a particular region, or for a variety of other reasons, such as flood control, navigation and urban development. Egypt is a great example, as the territory is currently facing severe water shortages due to increased demand, climate change and waste. Interestingly, agricultural activity has existed for thousands of years in the region.

Egypt is developing the world's largest artificial river for agricultural production

An artificial river could improve agricultural production by providing additional water, reducing reliance on the Nile River and enabling better control of water flow. This would expand production and food security, in addition to leveraging economic development. No wonder Egypt is developing the largest artificial river in the world.

The New Delta Project is a venture developed by Egypt with the main focus on transforming millions of hectares of land in the Western Desert into arable land through the construction of the largest artificial river in the world.

In short, the project aims to improve agricultural production, recover land and expand the country's cultivation area, providing the water needed to cultivate up to almost 9.200 km², using biotechnology.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is leading the construction of the artificial river project. He recently participated in a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Agriculture Alsayid Al-Qaseer, Minister of Water Resources Hani Sweilem and commanders of the Armed Forces. The president stressed that, to guarantee the success of the project, coordination between the parties involved, the use of modern irrigation systems and efficient water management are essential. This indicates a concern to rationalize water consumption and ensure the sustainability of the project.

Egypt aims to build 92 km artificial river

The project's infrastructure, which will help agricultural production, includes around 22 km of underground pipes for water transport, treatment and drainage at the Al-Hamam sanitation station. The artificial river will stretch for 92 km, and 65% of the work in the open area and 35% of the underground works have been completed by then. In addition, the country plans to develop an additional 114 km artificial river as part of the New Delta project, with a focus on increasing food security and boosting agricultural exports.

Egyptian authorities say the project will initially cover one million acres, equivalent to 4.050 km², and is one of the initiatives to expand the country's agricultural land by 15%.

In a context where Ethiopia is finalizing construction of the Great Renaissance Dam, which could reduce the downstream flow of the Nile by up to 25%, Egypt seeks to ensure social and economic stability, as well as food security. The total investment in the Novo Delta project is estimated at 160 billion Egyptian pounds, equivalent to approximately US$ 5,25 billion.

Other artificial rivers around the world

In Brazil, there is the Água Branca River located in São Paulo, developed as part of an urban revitalization project. In Panama, there is an important artificial waterway that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, making it possible for ships to pass through the Isthmus of Panama. In the US, the Los Angeles River has been modified to meet the water demands of the City of Los Angeles, and is now composed primarily of concrete channels.