1960day.year
President of Egypt Gamal Abdel Nasser opens construction on the Aswan Dam by detonating ten tons of dynamite to demolish twenty tons of granite on the east bank of the Nile.
On 9 January 1960, President Gamal Abdel Nasser ceremonially triggered the start of the Aswan Dam construction, signaling Egypt's drive toward modernization.
In a dramatic display, Nasser detonated ten tons of dynamite to remove granite boulders on the Nile's east bank.
The event marked the formal beginning of the Aswan High Dam project, intended to control flooding and generate hydroelectric power.
Funded partly by Soviet aid after Western withdrawal, the dam symbolized Egypt's non-aligned pursuit of development.
Engineers faced challenges in relocating ancient archaeological sites and resettling communities.
Upon completion in 1970, the dam transformed Egypt's agriculture and energy sectors.
It remains a testament to Nasser's vision of national progress and sovereignty.
1960
President of Egypt
Gamal Abdel Nasser
Aswan Dam
dynamite
Nile