A
gravity dam, it was 1,900 m long and 54
m high. The initial design was soon found
to be inadequate and the height of the
dam was raised in two phases, 1907–1912
and 1929–1933. When the dam almost
overflowed in 1946 it was decided that
rather than raise the dam a third time,
a second dam would be built 6 km up-river.
Proper planning began in 1952, just after
the Nasser revolution, and at first the
US and Britain were to help finance construction
with a loan of USD $270 million. Both
nations canceled the offer in July 1956
for reasons not entirely known. A secret
Egyptian arms agreement with the USSR
and Egyptian recognition of the People's
Republic of China are cited as possible
reasons. As a response, Nasser nationalized
the British and French-owned Suez Canal,
intending to use tolls to subsidize the
High Dam project. In retaliation, Israel,
Britain, and France attacked Egypt and
occupied the Suez Canal precipitating
the Suez Crisis. The United Nations, US
and USSR forced the invaders to withdraw
and the canal was left in Egyptian hands.
|
|