Saving the Temples on the Nile

In 1960 then Egyptian President Nasser ordered the dams construction In order to save the temples of Ramses II and Cleopatra among others UNESCO reached out to over 50 countries and raised 80 million After receiving multiple proposals to save the structure it was one from Sweden that proved successful The plan dismantling the complex and rebuilding it on higher ground Between November 1963 and September 1968 saws were used to cut the two temples into 1036 blocks each weighing between seven and 30 tons Their new location was 64 meters above the old site and 180 meters further inland After five years of construction this major undertaking was completed on September 22 1968 The Nubian temples of Abu Simbel are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site