Why the Nile Flows North

Added: 2026-05-29

[00:00:00]Many people assume rivers must flow south, but the Nile flows steadily toward the north. Rivers actually move from higher elevation to lower elevation, following gravity rather than any compass direction.

[00:00:12]The Nile begins in the highlands of East Central Africa and descends toward the Mediterranean Sea.

[00:00:18]Along the way, it crosses one of the driest deserts on the planet. For thousands of years, its waters supported farming communities along narrow green banks. Annual flooding once spread fertile soil across the surrounding land. The Nile shows that direction means nothing without elevation. Follow Lavish Rivers for more.