Kitchener's IslandKitchener's Island (now locally known in Arabic as Geziret an-Nabatat, which translates as "island of plants"; also known as Plantation Island) is a small, oval-shaped island in the Nile at Aswan, Egypt. It was given to Lord Kitchener as a thank-you for his services in the Sudan Campaign (1896-1898).With the aid of the Ministry of Irrigation, he rapidly transformed the small (approx. 750-meter-long) island into a paradise of exotic trees and plants and carefully planned walkways. It later passed into the property of the Egyptian government and was used as a research station for examining different food and cash crops, and a biological research station is present at the southern tip, which is closed to vistors. It is particularly popular among the local people as a spot for weekend picnics or for a quiet afternoon away from the noise of the city. |
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"The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work." - Emile Zola (1840-1902) |
