Blue Nile River: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Nov. 4, 2026

News •

From The Cradle Of The Nile: Ethiopia’s Sea-Access Ambitions Take Center Stage At Tana • Oct. 31, 2026, 3:41 AM ET (The Reporter)

Photos

Blue Nile Falls cascades over a wide cliff surrounded by lush green vegetation, with mist rising and sunlight streaming through clouds in Ethiopia.

Map of Africa highlighting the course of the Blue Nile River in blue, flowing from Ethiopia into Sudan. Surrounding countries and major bodies of water such as the Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean are labeled for geographic context.

Blue Nile River

Map of the Nile River basin showing the river's full course from its sources in East Africa through Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea. The map highlights physical features including elevation, irrigated areas, swamps, sand areas, intermittent streams, dams, waterfalls, rapids, and canals, as well as major lakes and cities along the drainage network.

Map showing the routes of major nineteenth-century European expeditions exploring the Nile River, with color-coded lines tracing the journeys of Bruce, Burton and Speke, Speke, Speke and Grant, and the Bakers through Egypt, Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, and surrounding regions. Key locations such as Lake Victoria, Lake Albert, Lake Tana, and major cities like Cairo, Khartoum, and Kampala are labeled.

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Nile River Zambezi River Congo River Niger River Victoria Nile Orange River Limpopo River Volta River Gambia River Kagera River

Tower Bridge over the Thames River in London, England. Opened in 1894. Remains an Important Traffic Route with 40,000 Crossings Every Day.

Guess the City by Its River Quiz

water glass on white background. (drink; clear; clean water; liquid)

Water and its Varying Forms

Mount Kenya in Mount Kenya National Park is the highest mountain in Africa. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Giant Lobelia in foreground. (Mt. Kenya; Mt. Kenya National Park; mountains; rugged mountain; African geography, African landscape, stratovolcano)

Africa’s Physical Features