The Nile River was, without question, the dominant factor in the lives of the Egyptians. Annual floods renewed the soil’s fertility and the irrigated the surrounding land. By creating a series of man-made water works, they could harness the life-giving powers of the Nile still further. Canals helped to form lakes which could be used as reservoirs to provide year-round irrigation. The creation of artificial lakes exploited this further, enabling the Egyptians to store supplies of water throughout the year.
