Final answer:
The Aswan High Dam in Egypt controls the waters of the Nile River, which is critical for irrigation, hydroelectric power, and supporting the local population.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Aswan High Dam in Egypt controls the waters of the Nile River. This embankment dam, constructed between 1960 and 1970, was built across the Nile in Aswan to control the flooding of the Nile Valley, provide water for irrigation, and generate hydroelectric power.
The river facilitated the growth of the Pharaonic Egypt civilization and continues to be vital for Egypt's population, particularly in cities like Cairo, as well as for agriculture which employs a large portion of the population. While the dam helped manage the Nile's water flow, it also changed the agricultural practices, since water now has to be pumped onto fields rather than being supplied by natural flooding, which has consequently impacted soil quality over time.