One of the world's first civilizations, the ancient Egyptians, had developed by relying on the Nile River and its fertile land. The ancient Egyptians built cities, temples, and pyramids along the river. The Nile River was used for food and water; it was also the source of irrigation for the farmers. The river was used greatly for trade and travel, and was also used as protection. Even today, the Nile River still has a great influence on human life along its banks. However, overtime the Nile River has been affected for better or for worse by human development.
The journey of the Nile River begins from Lake Victoria, where a carnivorous fish was introduced to the area primarily to support the fishing industry. But the fish that already had lived in this lake were small in size and did not provide the fishing industry with their needs, so releasing this carnivorous fish seemed as a great idea that would later impact the river. The fish had adapted to the environment and rapidly consumed the vast populations of the lake's native species. This dramatic change has caused the once diverse population to be simplified and increased the revenue of the fish industries due to the enormous, quality fish that now roam Lake Victoria.
The Nile ecosystem also faces the problem of pollution. There are many sources of this pollution, one of them being the city of Cairo, Egypt. The city of Cairo has caused the river to increase in phosphorous and nitrogen triggered by the city's poor sanitization conditions. The phosphorous and nitrogen released into the river created a rapid increase in algae which can lead to the suffocation of fish and damage the fish industry. The usage of fertilizer and pesticides for agriculture near the river has also polluted the river. Even though the people of Cairo pollute the Nile, the Nile River still provides a fairly high quality, primary source of water to the city's growing population.