Aswan is Egypt’s sunniest southern city and it is located about 134 miles (215 km) south of Luxor, 490 miles (790 km) south of Cairo.
Aswan is situated at the foot of the Nile Valley to the North end of Lake Nasser. It is a major mining area for aluminum and it’s the only place all over Egypt where granite could be found, as well as also being one of the favorite places for tourists to visit due to it being a major stop for cruise boats. Aswan has a distinctively African atmosphere due to the Nubians who live there.
Aswan is the modern name of the city, while the ancient Egyptians called it Swenett means market place, as it was a meeting point for all of the Egyptians and the southern lands to exchange the goods together.
Aswan had an important rule protecting Egypt from invaders as it formed the southern borders of Egypt. That’s why this city was a military town during the time of ancient Egypt. Its stone quarries are said to have provided the granite rock known as Syenite for most of the fabulous temples, columns and obelisks built by the pharaohs.
Like Luxor, Aswan is divided by the river Nile. The West Bank has few structures such as the Monastery of St Simeon, the Aga Khan Mausoleum, Kitchener’s Island and the Tombs of the Nobles. But The High Dam, Philiae Temple, The Unfinished Obelisk, The Old Dam and The Nubian Museum are all on the East Bank of the city.
In ancient Egypt god Khnum was the major god of the city, but he was later replaced by the goddess Isis, Goddess of magic and maternity, in the Greco Roman period.
Because of the location of Aswan, just north of the Tropic Of Cancer, the city enjoys a very warm climate during the winter, hot climate during the summer.
