Following completion of the work on the Sennar Dam, the British started the work in 1933 to build the Jebel Aulia dam, the largest dam in the world at that time, successfully completed in 1937. In 2003, a hydro-electric project was completed on the dam, adding a 30 megawatt maximum capacity.
The dam provides for a lake on the White Nile with sailing, fishing, swimming and boat life. Khartoum residents travel in their thousands on weekends to enjoy life on the shores of the river and the lake. Bringing their food and drinks or buy locally, you can enjoy a quiet weekend on the shores of the river/lake under the shade of tents, or get a boat ride from local boat owners or even sail.
The place is also good for bird watching. There are several Kentish Plovers and a number of other species, such as: Ringed Plover, Kittlitz's Plover, Spur-winged lapwing, Ruff, Little Stint, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper and Ruddy Turnstone. Other water birds included several heron species, some Eurasian Spoonbills, ducks Lesser Black-backed Gulls and lots of terns. These are especially common just below the dam, with lots of Whiskered and White-winged Black Terns, plus a few Caspian and Gull-billed terns.