Saving History: The Miracle of Relocating Abu Simbel
While you enjoy the vibrant coral reefs of the Red Sea, there lies a monumental miracle in the south of Egypt that rivals the pyramids. The Abu Simbel temples, built by Ramses II, are not just a masterpiece of ancient history, but a masterpiece of modern engineering.
The Threat: Rising Waters
In the 1960s, the construction of the High Dam meant that the rising waters of Lake Nasser would drown these magnificent temples forever. The world faced a dilemma: how do you move a mountain?
The Crazy Solution
Led by UNESCO and Egypt, an international team of engineers decided on a surgical solution. They cut the massive temple into 1,036 huge stone blocks, some weighing up to 30 tons.
The Process: A Surgical Operation
Cutting: Workers used hand saws to cut through the delicate sandstone to avoid damage from vibrations.
Moving: Each block was numbered and transported to a new location 65 meters higher and 200 meters back from the river.
Reassembling: Like a giant puzzle, the temple was rebuilt with extreme precision.
The Artificial Mountain: A massive concrete dome was built above the reconstructed temple and covered with rocks to mimic the original mountain shape.
The Solar Alignment Phenomenon
The original temple was designed so that the sun would illuminate King Ramses' face inside the sanctuary on his birthday and coronation day (February 21 and October 21). Modern engineers managed to preserve this phenomenon in the new location, though it shifted by just one day. Now, you can witness this magic on February 22 and October 22 every year.
Visit Abu Simbel
Today, Abu Simbel stands safe, welcoming millions of visitors. It is a testament to what humanity can achieve when we work together to save our heritage. Ask us about organizing a day trip to this wonder during your stay!
