DVD. Global Treasures. 10 Minutes. From a distance Aswan appears to be a small, rather idyllic and sleepy city but around two hundred and eighty thousand people live on Egypt's southern border. It is impossible not to be captivated by the pulsating life of the mysterious and strange streets of Aswan. Even today the colorful displays of goods in the souks are dominated by the historical South African caravan trade. The city is well known for its traditional bazaars. Depending on the time of day, everyday life is relatively calm and interrupted only by the hectic hustle and bustle of the traders. Aswan is synonymous with immense dams. In 1902 the first dam on the Nile was completed by the British. The Soviet Union sponsored the construction of an even larger dam. In 1971 the Sadd El-Ali Dam transformed the appearance of the Nile forever.