The Nile River is the longest river in the world. It has its beginnings in Burundi. It is south of the equator, and goes north through northeastern Africa. It goes through Egypt and flows down into the Mediterranean Sea. Three principal streams form the Nile. In Ethiopia's highlands, water flows from the Blue Nile and the Atbara. Atbara and Blue Nile are two streams that form the Nile River. Headstreams of the White Nile flow into Lake Victoria and Lake Albert. The White Nile is the other important stream.

The Nile River basin is really big and occupies an area about one-tenth of the continent of Africa. It includes parts of Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, The Sudan, and Egypt. It is estimated to drain an area of 1,293,000 square miles (3,349,000 sq. km.)

The Nile gets its name from the Greek Neilos, which means a valley or river valley. The river flowed northward and flooded the lands in Egypt, leaving behind black sediment.

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