Engineering Wonders of the World
Volume I

THE NILE DAMS AND THE ASSOUAN RESERVOIR. 397 r— Fig. 14.—BUILDING THE MASONRY ROUND SLUICES, WEST CHANNEL. Further reference must be made here to the gigantic sluice gates which are one of the most remarkable features of the great utility of the reservoir de- scheme. The Sluices. pends, perforce, upon the reliability of the sluices. Their size, taken together with the great head of water sustained, distinguishes them from all other sluices. Each sluice working at the lowest level had to be capable of being manipulated with ease while withstanding a total thrust of at least 210 tons. Such a thrust acting upon a laid in this western channel, and the whole of the masonry of that section carried up to 98 R.L., and the masonry across the four eastern channels carried up to about 100 R.L. Five strenuous months in the following year (1902) completed the great work. The ceremony of placing the coping stone in position was per- formed by H.R.H. the Duchess of Connaught on December 12, 1902. On this occasion Abbas II. opened five of sluice having sliding surfaces between fixed and moving parts would make it very diffir cult to move. The friction rollers of the Stoney sluice, interposed between the sliding surfaces, reduced sliding friction to rolling friction, and overcame the difficulty. Two men at the winch fixed above each sluice suffice to work any of the gates. (Fig. 17 represents a section of this sluice in plan.) Out of a total of 180 sluices, 130 are on the the great sluice gates, and allowed the first of the new water to pass down the river. The key used for this cere- monial rite was in the form of the ancient Ankh, sym- bolical of life—in this case of the life-giving properties of the sacred river. This Ankh is one of the com- monest signs to be met with in ancient art; it is repre- sented as being carried in the hand by most of the Egyptian gods and god- desses. Fig. 15.—THE OPENING CEREMONY, DECEMBER 12, 1902.