Aswan

Ferry on the Nile, at the ancient town of Aswan in southern Egypt.

Winter resort in southern Egypt, and capital of the governorate of the same name; population (1992) 220,000. It is near the Aswan High Dam. The main industries are tourism and textiles.

Ancient remains Traces of the ancient city still exist in the form of granite columns and portions of the ruins of a temple. The granite quarries from which the Egyptian builders and sculptors drew their supplies are situated in the hills to the south. An unfinished obelisk 42 m/138 ft long and 4 m/13 ft thick is here. Blocks were detached by boring holes, driving wedges into them, and then wetting the wedges. On the island of Elephantine is an ancient Nilometer and the Aswan Museum containing objects found in Lower Nubia. The rock tombs of princes and nobles on Elephantine are to be found in the hill on the opposite side of the river. The ruined Coptic monastery of St Simeon is also in the vicinity.