Nilometer, Cairo

From ancient times the people of Egypt have watched their lives by the coming of the Nile. Prosperity depended on the arrival of the river, as the harvest was associated with them. But when the overflow flowed, it was disastrous. This forced the Egyptians to build the so-called nilometers and count to take action in advance. 
There are many nilometers built in the Valley, the most complex being the one on the island of Roda in Cairo. It is at this point that the Nile looks powerful and magnificent. A narrow canal separates the island from Cornish Boulevard, and a wooden pedestrian bridge is built over the canal and it actually leads to the nilometer.
The first nilometer in this place has existed since the time of the pharaohs, and the one that can be seen today dates back to 861. Its shape resembles a pavilion with a conical roof and resembles a building on the Turkish model. The Nilometer is a large stone stake descending into a well built below the level of the Nile. An octagonal column is divided into units and is located at the bottom of the well.
In good years, the level of the Nile reached the 16th division and this was a cause for great celebration, while the passage of the 16th division was a cause for concern - defeats were inevitable. Below him, everything testified to drought and famine. In such cases, all celebrations and festivities were canceled and people indulged in urgent prayers and fasting.
In an effort to increase the chances of a good level of the Nile, texts from the Qur'an in praise of Allah and the water blessed by him are engraved on the well around the Nile. Although a device, not an architectural monument, the nilometer has something to impress. Pointed arches and lavishly carved and colored arabesques attract the eye. Near the Nilometer is the Nilometer Mosque, which dates from the 11th century.