Silsila understand · Silsila tourist information
All Destinations | Europe | Asia | North America | Africa | South America | Oceania | Hotels
Silsila tourist information
Silsila tourist information
The river Nile narrows at Silsila in order to get through the relatively narrow gorge, composed of steep sandstone cliffs on either side, that it has cut in order to continue its journey far north to the Mediterranean Sea. The locality seems to have formed a natural obstacle to otherwise sedate river traffic, probably reflected in its ancient Egyptian name Khenu, translated as "the Place of Rowing".
Geologically, this gorge marks the point at which the underlying bedrock of Egypt changes from limestone to sandstone. The high quality sandstones at this locality, much in demand, were quarried for centuries during the Pharaonic period and - having been transported up and down the river - were employed in monumental structures the length of Egypt. By the later Ptolemaic and Roman periods, tens of thousands of workers were employed here each year quarrying building stone.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Silsila
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Silsila - updated Apr 2024
SAVE up to 75% on Last Minute deals! Search for discount Silsila hotels, motels, apartments, hostels, guest accommodations and vacation resorts. Book now and pay at the hotel. Instant email confirmation!
>>> SEARCH FOR DEALS <<<
WHERE TO TRAVEL NEXT IN 2020
Silsila Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.