Abu Simbel: tempel som räddats (1966)

The majestic temples of Abu Simbel in Aswan, Egypt were built during the time of King Ramses II, in memory of the King and his wife Nefertari. The building of the temples resulted in four, 20-meter-high, colossal statues of Ramses II. In 1960, the construction of the new Aswan dam started, aiming to control flooding and providing increased water storage for irrigation. This meant that the water level would rise about 60 meters, threatening the temples of Abu Simbel with the sudden possibility of being submerged. A rescue campaign started, initiated by the government of Egypt, UNESCO and archeologists around the world.