Sudan on Africa map
(all images are clickable)

The difficult colonial past had pernicious influence on the fate of this African country. During the reign of Egypt and Britain, internal borders were drawn without taking into account the ethnic and religious differences of the people living here. The result of the ongoing conflicts was the split of the country.

Once the largest of all African countries, it was divided into two parts: Sudan and South Sudan. How politicians often present this situation: Black Africa has decided to secede from the Arab world.

Geographical position

The Republic of Sudan is located in North Africa and has access to the Red Sea. The northeastern border of the country runs along its coast. Ethiopia and Eritrea adjoin its territory from the east. In the north, the state borders on Egypt, in the south - on South Sudan. From the west, three countries are neighbors - the Central African Republic, Chad and Libya.

Where the White and Blue Nile unite, the great African river Nile begins its journey. Its valley from south to north crosses the entire territory of the state. Where the three Nile merge together is the capital city of Khartoum.

A significant part of the territory of Sudan is an elevated plateau with altitudes from 300 to 1000 m. Northern regions countries are occupied by the Libyan and Nubian deserts.

Tropical desert climate, in the zone of which it is located Sudan, determines the weather in the region. It is always hot and very dry here. Throughout the year, average monthly temperatures fluctuate between +20-30 °C. Only in the deserts there is a seasonal difference in temperature. In winter, the thermometer can drop to +4 °C, and in the summer months it can rise to +45 °C. During the year, no more than 200 ml of precipitation falls in the summer.

Big environmental problem is soil erosion and the onset of desert (desertification).

Flora and fauna

In accordance with climatic features vegetation cover is formed. More precisely, its absence northern regions. In deserts, only cereals and dry grasses are found. In rare oases you can see stunted trees, light forests - only in the Nile Valley.

To the south, savanna landscapes appear. Separate acacias, tamarinds, giant baobabs are scattered across the expanses overgrown with cereal grasses. The mountain slopes along the Red Sea coast are covered with forests.

Animal world Deserts are extremely scarce: several species of reptiles and insects. But the savannas are inhabited by representatives of the fauna quite densely. Herds of elephants roam here, swift-footed antelopes and gazelles rush by. They are hunted by lions and leopards. Graceful giraffes watch the picture of life from above.

Crocodiles feel good in the Nile River, hippos settled along its banks. The coastal waters of the Red Sea are full of marine life.

State structure

Sudan map

Like most African countries, Sudan is a republic. The head of state and government is the President. Higher executive agency government, legislature National Assembly. The territory of the country is divided into 17 states. There are over 30 active political parties in Sudan.

State recognized Arabic language. Absolute majority population professes Islam (Sunnis). It has its own currency, the Sudanese pound.

Population

Sudan has over 40.5 million inhabitants. Despite unfavorable economic and political conditions, the population growth rate is high. But average duration life is short (about 62 years), there is a high infant mortality rate.

The urban population is growing rapidly. More than 50% of the inhabitants prefer to settle along the Nile River valley.

Sudan can be called a multi-ethnic country. In addition to the most numerous Arabs, more than 570 different peoples live here.

Economy

The Republic is one of poorest countries peace. The state is in dire need of electricity. A huge external debt complicates the economic situation, but the Sudanese are actively seeking to improve the situation. The industry is developing and Agriculture, roads and businesses are being built.

The leading sectors of the economy are:

• food industry;
• light industry;
• mining and manufacturing industry;
• pharmaceuticals;
• production of building materials;
• Agriculture.

The impetus for the development of the economy was the beginning of the development oil fields. Extraction, processing and export of oil bring significant income to the country. The issue of Sudan's accession to the WTO is currently under consideration.

The territory of Sudan has been inhabited since time immemorial, presumably 7 thousand years before our era, people already lived here. In the IV century BC. e. the kingdom of Kush was formed in the region, and wars began with Egypt for territories. Kush conquerors Egyptian pharaohs proclaimed Christianity. But in the 7th century, the territory of the state was captured by Muslim Arabs. Local population they turned them into slaves and began to strictly enforce Islam. Since that time, serious inter-ethnic and religious contradictions began in Sudan.

Europeans arrived in the region only in the 12th century. The British mission was aggressive, they supported the aggressive policy of Egypt. The local population fought for the right to be free country. In 1956, she was successful, Sudan was proclaimed independent state. But began internal strife. The predominantly Christian south did not want to live according to the laws of Islam.

The civil war has not died down to this day. Even after separation South Sudan into an independent state, military conflicts continue.

Attractions

Many ancient buildings have been preserved from past centuries. They are the main attractions of the country. The building of Parliament and the Palace of the Republic in Khartoum amaze with their original architecture. The most valuable exhibits, which are several thousand years old, are stored in the Sudanese National Museum.

Catholic cathedrals, mosques of cities deserve attention. Fans of archeology are attracted by excavations of the ruins of ancient cities. Great scenery and amazing delicious fruit can also be attributed to the sights of this African country.

Sudan photo

Sudan on the world map

Sudan is a huge African state, occupying 10th place in terms of area in the world and 1st in Africa. However, very soon his territory should be divided in two, because in February 2011, almost 90 percent of the southern tribes voted in a popular referendum to secede. Foreign observers recognized the legitimacy of the vote, although an original methodology was used. Since most of the southern tribes were illiterate, they were offered cards where a handshake spoke of voting for integrity, and an open one palm for parting.

Sudan on the world map

The contradictions in Sudan have national roots - the south of the state is occupied by Negroid Nilotic tribes, the rest of the population is Arabs. For a long time Christianity was professed in Sudan, but eventually Islam won. And Sudan is now a conservative Islamic state. At one time, Osama bin Laden even lived in it, whose capture show was recently staged by the Americans.

Sudan map

If the south of Sudan breaks away, this state of 40 million will receive a powerful blow to an already not very developed economy, because impressive reserves of hydrocarbons and metals are concentrated in the south. The south, however, will remain without access to the Red Sea and inhabited by illiterate Negroes, who are constantly starving now, and there they will completely fade away. However, the split of the impressive Islamic state, followed by dismemberment, is beneficial to many.

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Since there is constant tension in Sudan, the houses are quite cheap and, if desired, you can easily buy an apartment in a new building. However, in their dreams, both northern and southern Sudanese dream of buying a new building in Ramenskoye. After all, new buildings in the Moscow region, although much more expensive, are located disproportionately far from the Sudanese problems.

Northern Sudan, a photo of which will be presented below, is part of a country that previously occupied the tenth position in the list of the largest in the world. Now he has moved to 15th place. Its area is 1,886,068 km2.

general characteristics

North Sudan is a country located in Africa. Most of it is a vast plateau. Its average height is 460 m. The plateau is crossed by the Nile Valley. The capital of Northern Sudan is located at the confluence of the Blue and White Nile. In the eastern territory along the Red Sea coast and the border with Ethiopia, the terrain is mountainous. Most countries occupy deserts. Many travelers come to North Sudan just for them. The climate here is dry. Temperature in summer time ranges from 20 to 30 degrees, in winter - not lower than 15-17. There is very little rainfall during the year.

Attractions

Sudan (Northern) attracts tourists from all over the world. They go to visit not only Nubian and here you can see many sights that have been preserved from ancient Egyptian times. For example, these are the ruins of the pyramids between and r. Nile. The oldest structures were created by the rulers of the times of the kingdom of Kush as early as the 8th century. BC e. Having conquered part of the Egyptian territories, they adopted their culture. It should, however, be said that the pyramids located in Sudan have not been fully explored to date. This is due to the difficult political situation, and complex weather conditions. In addition to the pyramids, the country's landmark is Jebel Barkal. At its foot are the ruins of the temple of Amun, 12 more temples and 3 Nubian palaces. These monuments were World Heritage UNESCO in 2003.

Country device

In 1956, Sudan gained independence from Great Britain. Since that time in national policy dominated by a military regime of Islamic-oriented power. In Sudan, there were two fairly long civil wars. Both of them began in the 20th century. The reasons for the conflicts were the contradictions between the southern and northern territories of the country. The first confrontation began in 1955 and ended in 1972. At that time, no one officially said that it would subsequently be formed new country- Northern Sudan. War broke out again in 1983. This conflict was quite fierce. As a result, more than three million citizens were forced to flee the country. In general, according to unofficial data, more than 2 million deaths were recorded. Only in the early 2000s were peace talks. South and North Sudan signed agreements in 2004-2005. final treaty was approved in January 2005. In accordance with this agreement, South and North Sudan agreed on autonomy for 6 years. The treaty provided for a popular referendum to confirm independence. As a result, in 2011, in January, it was held in the southern part of the country. Independence was supported by a majority of votes.

New conflict

It took place in the western part of the country, in the Darfur region. As a result of this separate conflict, about 2 million people were again forced to flee the territory. In 2007, at the end of December, the UN sent peacekeepers here. They tried to stabilize the situation, which was becoming more and more tense. The situation took on a regional character and provoked instability in eastern territories Chad.

Additional problems

Arrives regularly in North Sudan a large number of refugees from nearby countries. Mostly refugees from Chad and Ethiopia are moving into the country. Sudan is poorly developed transport infrastructure, missing governmental support population, armed conflicts periodically continue to arise. All these problems have become chronic. They significantly impede the delivery of humanitarian aid to Northern Sudan.

Origins of conflicts

Officially, independence was declared in 2011, on July 9. In early January, as mentioned above, a referendum was held in the country. 99% of the citizens of the southern territory voted not to depend on the policies of Northern Sudan. Khartoum was not recognized by the voters as administrative center. Independence was supposed to mark the end of the transition period that was provided for under the Comprehensive Peace Treaty signed in 2005. This agreement put an end to the confrontation that had lasted for 22 years. The causes of the conflict, according to analysts, lie in the colonial past of the territory. The fact is that in 1884, at the Berlin Conference, European countries established such boundaries for African states under which representatives ethnic groups, who had nothing in common with each other, were mixed, and those who were close to each other, on the contrary, were divided. Since the beginning of independence, Northern Sudan has been in a constant state of tension, complicated as external conflicts with neighbors and internal contradictions.

Resource dispute

There is another problem that North Sudan is trying to solve today. Oil for the former united country was the main resource. After the division of the country, the government lost most of its reserves. In the disputed area of ​​Abyei, skirmishes between detachments of the divided territories still occur today. This conflict has been going on since May 2011. Northern Sudan has taken over the area, and its military formations are there to this day. In addition, before the declaration of independence based on the results of the referendum, another event took place. northern army Kufra region, located in southern Libya, was captured. Also, military detachments took control of Jauf and the road to the center of the Misla and Sarir fields. Thus, influence spread to the southeastern territory of Libya, due to which the government secured a share in the oil market of this country.

Powers concerned

According to some experts, Sudan's oil reserves can be compared with the resources Saudi Arabia. In addition, the country has deposits of copper, uranium and natural gas. In this regard, the division of the territory is reduced not only to the contradictions between Juba and Khartoum. The "Chinese factor" is also important, as is the rivalry between China and America in Africa. This is confirmed by some official data. Thus, since 1999, China has invested $15 billion in the economy of Sudan. Thus, he is the largest investor. Moreover, China financed the development of deposits on southern territories, investing $ 5 billion in it. However, all these investments were made before the official division of the country. Now China will have to negotiate the implementation of its projects with Juba. In this situation, it should be taken into account that Beijing was interested in maintaining the integrity of the country, while other powers actively supported the division.

Uganda

This country acts as the main strategic partner of the RUS in the fight against the para-Christian nationalist rebel group "Lord's Resistance Army". Along with this, Uganda is today considered the main conductor of Western ideas in Africa. According to a number of analysts, the pro-American orientation of this country will soon appear.

America

According to the US military, after the capital of Northern Sudan resisted for many years, the crisis in the country can only be eliminated through intervention, since all international diplomatic means against the head of government did not bring the desired result. According to the collection of documents published by Elliot, the reason for the intervention is considered to be a joint resolution and the UN on the peacekeeping contingent in the province of Dafur. In February 2006, the US Senate adopted a document requiring the introduction of UN peacekeepers and NATO troops into the region. A month later, Bush Jr. called for the deployment of reinforced formations in Dafur. In addition to America, China is also showing interest in the province.

North Sudan: gold

After the division, the country, having lost a major source of income, nevertheless did not remain without raw materials. On its territory there are reserves of manganese, copper, nickel, iron ore. In addition, a significant amount of resources is gold. For the extraction of minerals, the development of mining is necessary. The potential of this sector is quite high in the country. This is understood by the authorities of both territories. Intending to develop mining, governments thus seek to reduce dependence on oil production. At the beginning of the year, the administration announced its upcoming plans. Thus, the government of Northern Sudan has set the task of extracting 50 tons of gold. increased attention to this fossil is determined by its priority in modern conditions in export activities. Due to the sale of gold, Sudan managed to compensate to a certain extent for the losses after the division of the country.

Situation today

According to unofficial data, about half a million miners are searching for and developing deposits of the yellow metal. The government encourages this activity, provides work even for inexperienced citizens. As representatives of the mining industry note, the country today occupies a leading position in the list of African states that are of particular interest to world-class mining companies. This is due to insufficient knowledge of the reserves of the territory. Sanctions imposed by America, as well as endless armed conflicts, have weakened the interest of mining companies in the recent past. Today, however, investors have again turned their attention to Sudan, which was facilitated by a rather high price gold. The country's government, in turn, issued licenses for the development of deposits to Iran, Turkey, Russia, China, Morocco and other countries.

Khartoum

This city was founded by the British in the 19th century. The capital of northern Sudan has a relatively short history. At first, the city acted as a military outpost. It is believed that the capital got its name because of the thin strip of land at the confluence of the rivers. It looks like an elephant's trunk. The development of the city was quite fast. Khartoum reached its prosperity during the peak of the slave trade. This was between 1825 and 1880. Khartoum became the capital of the country in 1834. Many European researchers considered it as starting point during their expeditions to African territories. Currently, Khartoum is considered the richest and largest among the Sudanese cities that exist today. In addition, it is recognized as the second largest Muslim territory in this part of Africa.

In general, modern Khartoum is unremarkable and quiet city. Of interest here may be its colonial center. The city retains peaceful environment trees are planted along the streets. Nevertheless, signs of the colonial center of the era can still be seen in its appearance. british empire. As for architecture, the Palace of the Republic and the parliament building, as well as museums (ethnographic, natural history and National Repository). The Sudanese and African collections are preserved in the library of the Capital University. The National Office of Records (Records) holds the main collection of historical documentation. The National Museum presents exhibits of many civilizations and eras. The collections include, among other things, earthenware and glassware, figurines and sculptures. ancient kingdom and Egyptian pharaohs. The frescoes of the ruined churches, dating from the 8th to 15th century, represent the Christian era of ancient Nubia. There are two temples in the garden of the National Museum. They were transported from Nubia and restored in Khartoum. Previously, the temples of Semna and Buen were located on the territory flooded by Lake Nasser, which, in turn, was formed after the installation of the hydroelectric dam. These structures were originally erected during the reign of Pharaoh Thutmose III and Queen Hatshepsut. The ethnographic museum of the capital is relatively small. However, it presents interesting meetings products related to village life. The collections include items of clothing, kitchen utensils, musical instruments, hunting tools. The most attractive place is the confluence of the Blue and White Nile. Almost on the shore there is a kind of amusement park, from where a magnificent panorama of the river opens.

Conclusion

The history of Sudan is rather complicated and consists mainly of constant conflicts and confrontations. This area is of particular value because it has large reserves mineral. Due to the difficult political situation, the industrial and transport sectors are rather poorly developed here. Nevertheless, the country attracts a large number of tourists. Many foreign investors are also showing interest. The mining sector is particularly attractive. On this territory, monuments of ancient eras have been preserved, some of which are under the protection of the world community.

Sudan is a huge African state, occupying 10th place in terms of area in the world and 1st in Africa. However, very soon his territory should be divided in two, because in February 2011, almost 90 percent of the southern tribes voted in a popular referendum to secede. Foreign observers recognized the legitimacy of the vote, although an original methodology was used. Since most of the southern tribes were illiterate, they were offered cards where a handshake spoke of voting for integrity, and an open one palm for parting.

The contradictions in Sudan have national roots - the south of the state is occupied by Negroid Nilotic tribes, the rest of the population is Arabs. For a long time, Christianity was practiced in Sudan, but eventually Islam won. And Sudan is now a conservative Islamic state. At one time, Osama bin Laden even lived in it, whose capture show was recently staged by the Americans.

If the south of Sudan breaks away, this state of 40 million will receive a powerful blow to an already not very developed economy, because impressive reserves of hydrocarbons and metals are concentrated in the south. The south, however, will remain without access to the Red Sea and inhabited by illiterate Negroes, who are constantly starving now, and there they will completely fade away. However, the split of an impressive Islamic state, followed by dismemberment, is beneficial to many.

__________________________________________________________________________
Since there is constant tension in Sudan, the houses are quite cheap and, if desired, you can easily buy an apartment in a new building. However, in their dreams, both northern and southern Sudanese dream of buying a new building in Ramenskoye. After all, new buildings in the Moscow region, although much more expensive, are located disproportionately far from the Sudanese problems.

In the northern part of the mighty African continent the state of Sudan is located. When mentioned in official documents and when official address it is commonly referred to as the Republic of the Sudan.

Sudan on the world map

The northeastern borders of Sudan are washed by the waters of the Red Sea. The rest of the borders are land, and look like this: according to western border- Chad, on the northwestern border - Libya, northern border- Egypt, along the southeastern border with Ethiopia and Eritrea, and in the southwest with Central African Republic. The capital of the Republic is considered to be the city of Khartoum.
All river arteries of the country that flow through the territory of Sudan on permanent basis(do not dry out during the drought), belong to the Nile River basin. This deep river crosses the entire perimeter of the country from south to north. Permanent tributaries include: Atbar, Sobat, Bahr el-Jebel with tributaries, White and Blue Nile. In the area where the White and Blue Nile merge, the capital, Khartoum, is located. These rivers are a constant source of irrigation for adjacent agricultural lands, and also act as waterways countries. In a number of areas, these tributaries are used for the extraction of hydropower. Quite a lot of springs are concentrated on the coast of the Red Sea, but the water in them is very mineralized.

Sudan map in Russian

The main territory of the state can be described as a plateau, located at a level of 300-1000 m above the sea. But in the western part, you can find individual mountains and massifs, in particular, Mount Marra in Darfur, and in the east, small spurs of the Ethiopian highlands. The famous Central African Highlands originate in the southern part. Almost the entire north of the country is occupied by the Libyan sandy and Nubian sandy-stony deserts.
Among the minerals that are being mined, one can single out large deposits of gypsum in sea ​​coast, manganese, iron and marble are being mined.
In view of the climatic conditions, the flora in the north of the country is practically absent. In the southern and central regions savannahs are located with their characteristic flora. In addition to high-growing herbs, here you can find baobabs and many types of acacia. In the extreme southern mountainous areas you can find different rainforests. They grow quite interesting specimens of soap tree, tree-like milkweed and coffee tree. In the mouths of the southern tributaries of the Nile, it is not uncommon to find swampy areas.
The fauna of Sudan is very rich and is also mainly concentrated in the southern and central regions. Here you can meet hippos, lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes, gazelles and antelopes. The number of bird species that inhabit this country is also striking - these are guinea fowl, marabou, bustards, ostriches and a secretary bird. In the rivers you can find crocodiles and many types of fish, including: Nile perch and tiger fish. Termites live almost throughout the country, and in the southwest you can meet the tsetse fly.
The government of the republic gives great attention protection environment, therefore created National parks Nimule and Dinder, as well as the Erkovit nature reserve.
Climatic conditions in each region of the country have their own characteristics. In the north of the country, the climate is constantly preserved tropical deserts, which is characterized by an average monthly temperature ranging from 30 to 35 ºС and a small amount of precipitation. AT southern regions climatic conditions are formed under the influence of the equatorial monsoons, and the average temperature here is from 23 to 30 ºС, much more precipitation falls here. AT central regions the climate is transitional, but sandstorms are not uncommon on the eve of the rainy season.
Administratively, the Republic of Sudan is divided into 17 states, which are sometimes also called provinces.
Sights of interest to tourists are concentrated in the capital. These include: National Museum, the Ethnographic Museum, the Museum of Natural History, as well as the Palace of the Republic and the Parliament building. Photo materials used from Wikimedia © Foto, Wikimedia Commons