View over the Nile River from the New Cataract Hotel, Aswan, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

Feluccas on the River Nile and the Old Cataract Hotel, Aswan, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

Elephantine Island from the Old Cataract Hotel, Aswan, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

View from the New Cataract Hotel of the River Nile at Aswan, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

View from the New Cataract Hotel of the River Nile at Aswan, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

The oasis of Sesibi, founded in the XVIIIth dynasty, 3rd cataract of the River Nile, Nubia, Sudan, Africa

The oasis of Sesibi, founded in the XVIIIth dynasty, 3rd cataract of the River Nile, Nubia, Sudan, Africa

Elephantine Island from the Old Cataract Hotel, Aswan, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

Old Cataract Hotel on the Nile River, Aswan, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

Gardens of Sofitel Legend Old Cataract hotel situated on the banks of the River Nile, Aswan, Upper Egypt, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

Gardens of Sofitel Legend Old Cataract hotel situated on the banks of the River Nile, Aswan, Upper Egypt, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

Old Cataract Hotel and River Nile, Aswan, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

Sofitel Legend Old Cataract hotel situated on the banks of the River Nile, Aswan, Upper Egypt, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

Waterfalls of the Blue Nile, Ethiopia, Africa

A boy helps crush stones in a special stone mill in Sudan. Illegal gold-mining in the region of the fourth cataract of the Nile in northern Sudan. People from the nearby villages work in shallow shafts in the desert. The rocks containing gold are crushed in a special mill. Some of the material is washed with water on the spot but the major part of it is taken to a village. 12/01/2007

Sacks filled with gold dust are put together in Sudan. Illegal gold-mining in the region of the fourth cataract of the Nile in northern Sudan. People from the nearby villages work in shallow shafts in the desert. The rocks containing gold are crushed in a special mill. Some of the material is washed with water on the spot but the major part of it is taken to a village. 12/01/2007

The region of the Fourth Cataract, the most impassable of all rapids of the Nile. Still today the water rapids cannot be crossed by any large boats making the region accessible only via a sandy and rocky desert track. The region is among the most neglected areas in Northern Sudan. Apart from basic educational institutions virtually no public infrastructure such as tarred roads, bridges or ferry boats and hospitals exist.

The region of the Fourth Cataract, the most impassable of all rapids of the Nile. Still today the water rapids cannot be crossed by any large boats making the region accessible only via a sandy and rocky desert track. The region is among the most neglected areas in Northern Sudan. Apart from basic educational institutions virtually no public infrastructure such as tarred roads, bridges or ferry boats and hospitals exist.

A gold miner works in a shaft using hand tools in Sudan.

A barefoot goldmine worker stands near a shaft in Sudan.

A gold miner works in a shaft using hand tools in Sudan.

Felucca on Nile River Cataract, Aswan, Egypt