A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.
On Dec. 9, 1960, construction of the Aswan High Dam began in Egypt. It would be the first time flooding on the Nile would be controlled. The first blast, delivered by President Gamal Abdel Nasser, made the cover of the Deseret News.
“ASWAN, UAR (UPI) — President Gamal Abdel Nasser Saturday pressed a button that set off 11½ tons of dynamite and started construction of the Aswan high dam, biggest project in Egypt since the Suez Canal 100 years ago,” read the wire story in the Deseret News.
The rock-fill dam across the Nile River at Aswān, Egypt, was completed in 1970 and officially inaugurated in January 1971. It cost about $1 billion to build.
One of the major concerns was what would happen to the many national treasures, historical sites and architectural complexes that might be lost under what became known as Lake Nasser.
In all, 22 monuments and architectural complexes were threatened by flooding from Lake Nasser, including the Abu Simbel temples, but they were were preserved by moving them to the shores of the lake under the UNESCO Nubia Campaign.
Here are stories from Deseret News archives about the dam, preserving historic sites and UNESCO’s mission:
“History destroyed: UNESCO team ‘shocked’ at Egypt Islamic museum loss (+photos)”
“U.N. says destruction of Mideast historical sites ‘war crime’”
“Archaeologists in Egypt discover mummification workshop”
“Remains of Roman fortress emerge from Sinai Desert”
“Wilds advocated howl too much over ruling:”
“America’s dams are aging. Is it time to take them down?”
“Cleopatra relic lifted from underwater city”
“Glaciers in one-third of World Heritage sites might disappear by 2050, UNESCO reports”
