Egypt’s Nile River turns into Lake Nasser at the Aswan High Dam

iss074e0315952 (Feb. 16, 2026) --- Egypt’s Nile River turns into Lake Nasser (upper left) at the Aswan High Dam, where the water spreads into a vast artificial reservoir that controls the river’s flow, prevents flooding, and generates hydroelectric power. Center‑pivot irrigation systems appear near the center bottom, forming perfect circles of crops such as potatoes and wheat. The International Space Station was orbiting 258 miles above the African nation at the time of this photograph. Credit: NASA