Editing Blue Nile (section)

== Course ==
The distance of the river from its [[River source|source]] to its [[confluence]] has been variously reported between {{convert|1460|and|1600|km|mi}}.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}} This uncertainty might result from the fact that the river flows through a series of virtually impenetrable gorges cut in the [[Ethiopian Highlands]] to a depth of some {{convert|1500|m}}.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}} According to materials published by the [[Central Statistical Agency]], an Ethiopian government agency, the Blue Nile has a total length of {{convert|1450|km}}, of which {{convert|800|km|mi}} are inside Ethiopia.<ref>[http://www.csa.gov.et/index.php?option=com_rubberdoc&view=doc&id=184&format=raw&Itemid=466 "Climate, 2008 National Statistics (Abstract)"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113215000/http://www.csa.gov.et/index.php?option=com_rubberdoc&view=doc&id=184&format=raw&Itemid=466 |date=13 November 2010 }}, Table A.1. Central Statistical Agency website (accessed 26 December 2009) </ref> 

=== In Ethiopia ===
The Blue Nile originates at [[Lake Tana]] in Ethiopia (where it is called the Abay River). The river flows generally south before entering a canyon about {{convert|400|km|mi|-1|abbr=on}} long, about {{convert|30|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Lake Tana, which is a tremendous obstacle for travel and communication between north and south Ethiopia. The canyon was first referred to as the "Grand Canyon" in 1968 by a British team that accomplished the first descent of the river from Lake Tana to the end of the canyon; subsequent river rafting parties called it the "Grand Canyon of the Nile".<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gzx5qS4AvzwC&dq=%22Grand+Canyon+of+the+Nile%22&pg=PA37|title=Breakthroughs: An Integrated Advanced English Program|first1=Marina|last1=Engelking|first2=Gloria|last2=McPherson-Ramirez|date=15 April 2008|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-542738-7|via=Google Books}}</ref> The [[Blue Nile Falls]] ([[Amharic]]: Tis Abay, literally "great smoke"), one of Ethiopia's biggest tourist attractions, is located at the start of the canyon.

The river loops across northwest Ethiopia before being fed by numerous tributaries between Lake Tana and the [[Ethiopia–Sudan border]]. Those on its left bank, in downstream order, include the Wanqa River, the [[Bashilo River]], the [[Walaqa River]], the [[Wanchet River]], the [[Jamma River]], the [[Muger River]], the [[Guder River]], the Agwel River, the Nedi River, the [[Didessa River]] and the [[Dabus River]]. Those on the right side, also in downstream order, include the Handassa, Tul, Abaya, Sade, Tammi, Cha, Shita, Suha, [[Muga River (Ethiopia)|Muga]], [[Gulla (river)|Gulla]], [[Temcha]], Bachat, Katlan, Jiba, Chamoga, Weter and the [[Beles River|Beles]].<ref name="Huntingford">These lists are based on the compilation in G.W.B. Huntingford, ''Historical Geography of Ethiopia from the first century AD to 1704'' (London: British Academy, 1989), p. 34</ref>

=== In Sudan ===
[[Image:whiteandblueniles.jpg|thumb|Satellite image of where White and Blue Niles merge|alt=]]

The Blue Nile then heads northwest into Sudan. It travels for approximately {{Convert|650|km|mi|abbr=on}}, flowing past [[Er Roseires]] and receiving the [[Dinder River]] on its right bank at [[Dinder, Sudan|Dinder]]. At [[Khartoum]], the Blue Nile joins the [[White Nile]] and, as the [[Nile]], flows through [[Egypt]] to the [[Mediterranean Sea]] at [[Alexandria]].