How could we get another major river in North Africa?

While I agree with damming the Congo is a great idea, :D I do not think it would drain into the Mediterranean. :confused:


Oddball,

It appears there have been more accurate geological surveys done since the first half of the 20th Century. Be assured however, that Ley was quoting other earlier engineers, hydrologists, industrialists, and development "boosters" when he wrote his book in 1954.

(The chapter in the book dealing with the dammed Congo is quite chilling in a way. Ley blithely dismisses essentially drowning Central Africa by pointing out the benefits in transportation that will occur and is entirely silent on the environmental consequences.)

So, a dammed Congo will drain into the Atlantic via Lake Chad's lower eastern sill? Easily fixed then:

Have the same geological process that dammed the Congo's outfall raise Lake Chad's eastern sill.

Bingo. Northward flowing river.


Bill
 
So, the lynchpin, I believe, is to create another large, fertile river valley for the Egyptians to expand into, further increasing their population base and making it much more of a 'China' analogue. Now, the Nile itself is an extremely long river, stretching from Lake Victoria as it does. Might a similar body of water somewhere to the west of Lake Victoria create another continent spanning river?
I'm wondering if a Natural Canal from the Med to the Quattra Depression forming a large inland Sea may not allow you your larger Population.
Maybe a natural valley that flooded when the sea level rose at the end of the Ice Age.
 
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