Paleogeomorphology and evolution of the ancient  Pelusiac branch of The Nile Delta

MAGDY TORAB

Dep. of Geography, Faculty of Arts at Damanhour, Alexandria University, Egypt.

e-Mail: magdytorab@hotmail.com

Abstract

The ancient Nile Delta branches has  been recognized in various historical maps. The total number of the delta branches were between 3 and 16 distributaries, most of them have silted up except two branches (Rosetta and Damietta). The ancient Pelusiac branch has been traced on the easternmost part of the Nile Delta in the north western corner of the Sinai Peninsula. This paper focuses on identification relics of Pelusiac branch and remapping the paleogeomorphology of the ancient river channel, based on several data resources and methods such as: cartographic analysis of  historical topographic maps, detailed geomorphological surveying of some residual landforms and defunct channel by using Total Station and GPS., interpretation of aerial photographs and remote sensing images, morphometric analysis of the relic branch , morpho-sedimentary, fossils and petrographic analysis and C₁₄ dating of  boring samples of deltaic plain, coastal ridges and ancient channel as well as its ancient mouth. The present study tries to define the evolution stages of the branch during the Holocene. The major changes before disappearance made by human effects and some natural factors such as: sea level changes, coastal erosion, aeolian deposition, variation of river discharges and tectonic subsidence

Keywords: Nile Delta; Pelusiac branch; paleogeomorphology; ancient Nile Delta.