SUDAN
The Republic of Sudan is a state in northeastern Africa. It borders Egypt in the north, Ethiopia and Eritrea in the east, Kenya, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the south, the Central African Republic and Chad in the southwest and west, and Libya in the northwest. In the northeast it is washed by the Red Sea. The territory of the country is part of the vast natural region of Sudan, which stretches from the Sahara desert to the tropical rainforests of Central and West Africa. In terms of its area (2.5 million sq. km), Sudan is the largest state on the African continent. In 1998, the population of the country was 33 million people, while 20% of the population lived in cities. About 10% are nomadic and 70% live in rural areas. Vast areas of deserts in the north of the country are completely uninhabited. The territories that became part of modern Sudan were first united in the 19th century, and the current state borders were established in 1898. On January 1, 1956, the independence of Sudan was proclaimed. The capital of the country is Khartoum.

Sudan. The capital is Khartoum. Population - 33 million people (1998). Population density - 13 people per 1 sq. km. km. Urban population - 20%, rural - 80%. Area - 2.5 million square meters. km. The highest point is Mount Chineti (3187 m). The official language is Arabic. The main religion is Islam. Administrative-territorial division: 9 states, including the capital - the city of Khartoum. Currency: Sudanese pound = 100 piastres. National holiday: Independence Day - January 1st. National anthem: "Greetings, Republic of Sudan."

Nature. Surface structure. Most of the territory of Sudan is a vast plateau with an average height of 460 m, with a general slope from south to north. Its central parts are almost flat, but the surface gradually rises in western and eastern directions towards the higher parts of the plateau. In the south, along the border with Uganda, and in the east, along the border with Ethiopia and along the coast of the Red Sea, mountains stretch. In the mountains bordering Uganda, there is the highest point of the country, Mount Kinyeti (3187 m).
The entire country from south to north is crossed by the river system of the Upper and Middle Nile. The White Nile, known in its upper course as Bahr el-Jebel (translated as "mountain Nile"), originates in Uganda. It spreads over the vast clay plain Sudd (Arabic for "barrier"), where the flow slows down due to the abundance of aquatic vegetation. From the west, the El Ghazal River flows into the White Nile, which receives the flow of numerous rivers draining the watershed of the Nile and the Congo. From the east, the White Nile receives the Sobat tributary. The Blue Nile has its source in the mountains of Ethiopia, carries water to the northwest and merges with the White Nile at Khartoum. Below the river flows under the name Nile, taking in the east, 320 km north of Khartoum, a tributary of the Atbara, which, like the Sobat, begins in the mountains of Ethiopia. The White Nile has a stable runoff, as it is fed from the lake. Victoria and other lakes of Uganda. The Sudd region also has a regulating effect on the runoff. On the Blue Nile, only one flood is expressed - after heavy summer rains in Ethiopia; At the beginning of the year, the water level drops significantly. The Blue Nile and, to a lesser extent, the Atbara bring such a mass of flood water into the Nile that north of central Sudan the level of the Nile rises strongly in late summer. The minimum water level in the Nile is observed in winter.
In the Nile Valley, located in the desert zone, agriculture has developed over the centuries, based on the irrigation of fields with flood waters. Artificial irrigation facilities are used to irrigate land below the city of El Gebelein in the White Nile Valley and below the city of Singa in the Blue Nile Valley. At the same time, river waters are pumped out by pumps, and then, under the influence of gravity, they spread over the fields. In the region of El Gezira (Arabic for "island"), which is a wedge-shaped plain with an area of ​​​​approx. 2 million hectares between the White and Blue Nile south of Khartoum, the most important array of irrigated land is concentrated. The waters of the Blue Nile come here, dammed by a large dam at Sennar; the total area of ​​cultivated land there is 0.7 million hectares. Other major dams were built in the 1960s at Er Roseires on the Blue Nile and Khashm el Ghirb on Atbar (southwest of Kassala). The lands irrigated by water intake above the Hashm al-Girba dam are cultivated by peasants who moved from the area bordering Egypt in the Nile Valley after it was flooded by the Nasser reservoir as a result of the construction of the Aswan dam.
West of the river The White Nile extends over the vast undulating plateau of Kordofan, 300-600 m above sea level. In the extreme west of Sudan is the Darfur plateau with a height of 1500 to 3000 m (the highest point is Mount Marra, 3088 m). Between the Kordofan Plateau and the Darfur Plateau, a number of isolated massifs with a height of 750 to 1000 m are scattered. To the north of them and to the east and southeast of Darfur there is a large massif of fixed sand dunes. In the extreme northwest, the moving dunes of the Libyan desert enter Sudan.
To the east of the Nile valley, the surface rises, forming the plateau of the Nubian Desert and the mountains fringing the coast of the Red Sea. Highest point Mount Oda reaches 2259 m, some peaks exceed 1500 m. The mountains abruptly break off to a narrow sandy coastal plain 15 to 30 km wide, scorched by the heat. The coast is fringed with coral reefs and small islands, but only in a few places there are bays suitable for building ports.
Climate. The amount of precipitation and the duration of the wet season decrease from south to north. In the extreme south, more than 1500 mm of precipitation falls within nine months. Further north is the savannah with alternating wet and dry seasons, which gives way to semi-arid and, finally, exclusively arid conditions. On South all year round the weather is hot, and in the north the hot summer is moderately warm winter. In Juba in the south of the country, the average annual rainfall exceeds 970 mm, and most of it falls from April to October. Average temperatures range from 26°C during the wet months (July-August) to 29°C during the dry months (February-March). Daytime temperatures reach 30-37°C throughout the year.
Khartoum in northern semi-arid central Sudan has an annual rainfall of just 150 mm and most of it falls as showers between July and September. Average temperatures range from 23°C in January to 34°C in early June. At the beginning of summer, daytime temperatures often exceed 43°C.
The extreme north of Sudan receives almost no precipitation: in some years, several showers bring from 13 to 25 mm. Average temperatures range from 16°C in January to 33°C in June-August. The maximum summer daytime temperatures sometimes reach 43-49°C.
The coastal zone is under the influence of warm sea ​​waters. In Port Sudan, average temperatures range from 23°C in February to 35°C in August. A small amount of precipitation falls from October to January and in July-August, but the total annual amount does not exceed 100 mm. Moreover, the air is constantly humid, cool at night. With hot, humid days and muggy nights for much of the year, the coastal climate is considered one of the most inhospitable in the world.
Flora. The flora of Sudan varies from tropical rainforests in the south to deserts in the north. Six major vegetation zones. Near southern border countries grow wet rainforests. In the southwest, where the annual rainfall exceeds 1000 mm, tropical light forests and tall grasses are common. Most Valuable tree species- Senegal kaya (Khaya senegalensis) and isoberlinia (Isoberlinia doka). Slash-and-burn agriculture is widely practiced. Tree growth is stifled by fires during the dry season. The zone of the savanna itself (the amount of precipitation is from 500 to 1000 mm) is characterized by the development of tall grass, as well as acacias and other trees, therefore the term "acacia-tall grass savanna" is used. However, significant areas flooded annually during floods are completely devoid of tree vegetation and are tall grass plains used for grazing. Papyrus and other marsh plants grow in limited areas in the zone of permanent flooding. In Central Sudan (the amount of precipitation is from 300 to 500 mm), low-grass savannah with dispersed acacias prevails. Most of the territory is used for grazing, partly acacias are cut down for fuel. In this zone, as well as in the savannas in general, the well-moistened banks of the White and Blue Nile are overgrown with thorny light forest with acacias (Acacia arabica) and other trees used as commercial timber and for fuel. Further to the north (the amount of precipitation is from 50 to 300 mm), the vegetation is represented by a shrubby desert, where acacias grow, which are eaten by camels, sheep and goats. Gum arabic is extracted from the acacia senegal (Acacia senegal), which is one of the important exports of Sudan. The far north receives less than 50 mm of precipitation per year. The vegetation cover is extremely sparse and, with the exception of the Nile Valley, the area is almost uninhabited.
Fauna. In the south of the country, various animals live in forests and savanna woodlands, including elephant, buffalo, zebra, white and black rhinoceros, giraffe, lion, forest pig, chimpanzee, leopard, cheetah, hyena and many species of antelope: eland, large and small kudu, bush duiker, horse antelope, etc. Hippopotamus and crocodile are found along the watercourses in the south, as well as tropical birds such as flamingo, secretary, different types storks, including marabou. Northern hemisphere winter European migratory birds cross the Sahara on their way to northern Sudan, especially along the Nile Valley, and migrants from South Africa appear in the winter of the Southern Hemisphere. Monkeys, small birds, snakes and insects complete the diversity of the fauna. In drier savannahs and deserts, gazelles are found in places. The mountains in the west of Central Sudan are inhabited by the oryx and addax antelope, and in the northeast by the Nubian ibex and wild ass (in the mountains that stretch along the Red Sea coast).
POPULATION
Ethnogenesis and language. The population of ancient northern Sudan underwent a radical change in the Middle Ages as a result of the frequent migrations of nomadic Arabs and their marriages with the local population. In the north, Islam is the dominant religion and Arabic is the main language of communication; the Arab roots of the population are generally recognized. In cities and other settlements widespread until the 20th century. tribal organization system social life the population dies or is destroyed, but in the conditions of a nomadic way of life it still serves as a unifying factor. The Arabic-speaking population is predominantly sedentary and confined to river valleys and areas where there is sufficient rainfall to grow crops. In addition, Arabic is spoken by nomads who herd camels and sheep in the adjacent steppes, and there are also pastoral Arabs (baggara) of southern Darfur and Kordofan. Some Muslim tribes in the north of the country do not know Arabic, these are primarily the Cushitic-speaking Beja on the Red Sea coast, the Dongola and other Nubian peoples living in the Nile Valley and the Fur from Darfur.

Until the middle of the 19th century. the territory of Sudan south of 12° N. long. was not invaded by Arabs or Arabized northern peoples. So far, the local population has not converted to Islam. Ethnically, it belongs to several groups and speaks different languages. The main groups of the population of southern Sudan are the Nuba, who are engaged in agriculture on the slopes of southern Kordofan; the Shilluk, who dwell in the White Nile Valley and are ruled by highly revered chiefs; numerous Dinka tribes who graze cattle on the plains east of the White Nile and in the valley of the El Ghazal river, as well as the Azande, who live in the mountains between the Nile and the Congo.
A small number of foreigners live in Sudan. Greeks and, to a lesser extent, Armenians, Indians, and Yemenis control much of the city's retail trade. Muslim migrants from countries located west of Sudan, primarily from Nigeria, make up the main labor force on the cotton plantations in El Gezira (between the White and Blue Nile). In the field of foreign trade, technology and higher education the role of Europeans (mainly the British) is great, but they rarely live in the country permanently. State language is Arabic, English is quite widespread, the educated part of the population of the South sometimes uses it as a means of interethnic communication.
Religion. Although all Arab settlers were Muslims, the planting of Islamic culture in northern Sudan dating back to the 15th-17th centuries was due to the efforts of Muslim missionaries and Sudanese who studied in Egypt or Arabia. These people were members of religious orders (tarika), and the Sudanese version of Islam was characterized by the devotion of ordinary Muslims to the head of the order and adherence to an ascetic lifestyle. At the beginning of the 19th century a new religious direction Khatmiya was formed, in which the influence of the descendants of its founder Mirgani is still preserved. During the period of Turkish-Egyptian rule in the 19th century. contact between Sudanese and more orthodox and sophisticated Egyptian Islam intensified. In 1881, the messianic movement of the Sudanese religious reformer Mohammed Ahmed began, who declared himself a mahdi (messiah, announcing the imminent coming of the prophet) and called for a struggle to restore true Islam. His followers began to be called Ansar (after the name of the dervish order they created). In today's Sudan, it is the Ansar and Khatmiyya who are the most influential religious sects, Ansar prevails in the western part of the country and in areas along the banks of the White Nile, Khatmiyya - in the north and east of the country. As a rule, both sects play an important role in political life Sudan.
The arrival of the Arabs gradually nullified the influence of Christianity, the religion of medieval Nubia, the state in the Nile Valley. In the 19th century several Catholic missions were still operating in Sudan, which, without much success, conducted religious propaganda among the pagan population. During the period of the Anglo-Egyptian condominium (1899-1955), in accordance with the orders of the British administration, the activities of Christian religious missions were allowed only in the southern part of the country, and Catholic and Protestant missionaries operated in strictly defined areas. In 1964, the Sudanese government expelled all foreign missionaries from the country. Although such a decision posed a serious threat to the life of local Christian churches, since it made it difficult for new clergy to arrive and gave new impetus to the Islamization of the southern regions, by this time Christianity had already taken such deep roots in the south that it allowed it not only to survive, but also to strengthen itself under support from local authorities.
Cities. A fairly dense conurbation, including Khartoum, Omdurman and North Khartoum, formed at the confluence of the Blue and White Nile. All three of these cities are very different from one another. Khartoum was founded in the 19th century. as the administrative center of the Turkish-Egyptian administration and retained this function during the period of the Anglo-Egyptian condominium. Khartoum is the most European city, different from other cities in Sudan. Omdurman, the former capital of the Mahdist state, despite some modernization, still retains a typical Sudanese appearance. Northern Khartoum, which arose in the 20th century. as the terminus of the railroad drawn from the north, it is largely associated with the maintenance of this road and the river port. In 1998, the total population of Khartoum, North Khartoum and Omdurman was approx. 4 million people, while a good half of them were refugees who left the southern regions because of the war, and residents of other regions who want to improve their financial situation. The development of a network of modern communications owes their appearance to such cities as Atbara (85 thousand inhabitants in 1998), located at the intersection of routes from the north and from the Red Sea coast, Kosti (100 thousand), which grew up at the intersection of the White Nile with the railway, and Port Sudan (310 thousand) on the Red Sea coast. In their importance, they replaced the ancient center of the Berber caravan routes, the former river jetty of Ed-Dueim and the almost abandoned seaport of Suakin, which played an important role during the Turkish rule. Other cities in the country combine administrative and economic functions; for example, Wad-Medani (230 thousand inhabitants in 1998) is the center of the cotton-growing region of El Gezira; El Obeid (250 thousand) - the main market for gum arabic and Kassala (250 thousand, 1998) - cotton growing. All these cities are also local administrative centers. In the southern part of the country, cities arose in the 20th century. as administrative centers, the largest of them - Juba (20 thousand inhabitants in 1998).
voluntary associations. The oldest voluntary associations in northern Sudan are Muslim spiritual orders, some of which originated as early as the 15th-16th centuries. Some of them are branches of religious brotherhoods spread throughout the Muslim world, others are purely local formations. Muslim religious orders are based on numerous local cells and are controlled by a hierarchy of spiritual leaders who are subject to the supreme sheikh. While the Ansar and Khatmiya sects, led by the Mirghani and Mahdi families respectively, are not spiritual orders in the full sense, they are organized on the same principles and play a similar role in the life of the Sudanese Muslim society. Initially, the orders were an association of zealous followers of Allah, striving through collective prayers under the guidance of those who were familiar with secret knowledge, to find a mystical way of penetration into Islam. At present, they are the bearers of a kind of emotional "revivalist" folk religion, which is perceived by more educated or orthodox Sudanese with a certain amount of mistrust and skepticism.
Strengthening contacts with Egypt and Western countries led to the emergence of a number of associations characteristic of the countries of the Middle East and Europe, in particular, literary and sports clubs, cooperatives and trade unions. Similar associations began to form in last years the existence of the condominium, and they were based on political rather than economic and social factors.
GOVERNMENT AND POLICY
Government. Since the unification in the 19th century. areas that make up the current territory of Sudan, the traditions of the authoritarian, centralized and bureaucratic method of governing the country are preserved. In practice, this system is undergoing changes due to a number of factors specific to the Sudan: the presence of a huge territory in the absence of adequate means of communication, the diversity of the ethnic composition of the population and the persistence of inter-tribal hostility. During the period of the Turkish-Egyptian domination, the top of the administrative apparatus was formed from among the subjects of the Ottoman Empire, mainly the Egyptians. After the formation of the Mahdist state, key posts in government were transferred to the Sudanese-northerners from the Nile regions, and during the reign of Caliph Abdullahi (1885-1898) - to his Baggar tribesmen. During the existence of the condominium, initially the highest positions were occupied by the British, but then the number of Sudanese officials gradually increased. English officials exercised control over the country's rural areas through a system of traditional power and tribal leaders. Since independence, northern Sudanese have always been at the helm of power.
On the eve of gaining independence in 1956, the country had already established a system of state power in the form of an elected parliament and a cabinet of ministers headed by a prime minister. The first step was the formation of the Northern Sudan Advisory Council in 1944. In 1948, the creation of Legislative Assembly, which included representatives of both the northern and southern regions, and in 1954 - the first bicameral parliament in the history of the country, most of whose deputies were elected in direct elections.
During the condominium period, all power was concentrated in the hands of the governor-general, under whom a council of high-ranking British officials functioned from 1910. In 1948 this body was replaced by the Executive Council, which included Sudanese ministers. With the creation of the Parliament, the executive powers of the Governor-General were transferred almost entirely to a Sudanese-based cabinet, accountable to the legislature. With the declaration of independence, the remnants of the power retained by the Governor-General were transferred to the Supreme Commission, which consisted of five Sudanese.
After a military coup in November 1958, the constitution was suspended and the activities of the parliament and political organizations were banned. As a result of popular uprisings in October 1964, civilian rule was restored in the country, and in 1965 the parliament resumed its work. But in May 1969, a military coup took place again, the operation of the constitution and the activities of the parliament were suspended, and political organizations were dissolved. The ten-member Revolutionary Council, headed by Ja'far al-Nimeiri, took over the functions supreme body authorities. In 1972, al-Nimeiri dissolved the Revolutionary Council and in 1973 promulgated a constitution that provided for the restoration of the presidency with broad powers and the creation of people's councils. In 1985, al-Nimeiri's government was overthrown in a new military coup, and power passed to another military council.
After the 1986 elections, parliamentary democracy was restored in Sudan, and the government was headed by Sadiq al-Mahdi. The government has made several unsuccessful attempts to negotiate an end to civil war in southern Sudan. The failure of Sadiq al-Mahdi in this direction, as well as the deteriorating economic situation in the country, predetermined the success of the military coup in June 1989, led by Umar Hassan al-Bashir. As head of the Revolutionary Leading Council for National Salvation, al-Bashir abolished the constitution, as well as the activities of the National Assembly, trade unions and all political organizations. The actions of the new leadership of Sudan enjoyed unconditional support from the National Islamic Front. In 1993, the governing Revolutionary Council was replaced by a civilian government, which was still headed by al-Bashir and which continued to be influenced by Islamic fundamentalists. On the presidential elections 1996 al-Bashir won an unconditional victory. Elections to the National Assembly were held that same year. In a situation where all other political organizations were banned, candidates from the National Islamic Front easily won. One of the achievements of the legislature was the preparation of the text of a new constitution, which was adopted in 1998.
Political parties. Prior to the military coup of 1989, the leading political parties in Sudan were represented by the Unionist Democratic Party, the Sudanese Communist Party, the Al-Umma Party, a traditional Mahdist party founded in 1945, and a number of relatively few parties in South Sudan. The most influential of these were the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and its military wing, the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). This group, led by John Garang de Mabior, arose in 1983 on a wave of resistance to al-Nimeiri's policy aimed at introducing a new administrative division in the south of the country. For many years, the activities of the SPLM were limited to the borders of South Sudan, but in 1995, speaking out against al-Bashir and the National Islamic Front, Garang, along with a number of political leaders of the North, formed a coalition called the National Democratic Union (NDU). It included such influential opposition political parties as Al-Umma and the Unionist Democratic Party. Other political factions in the South, the South Sudan Liberation Front and the South Sudan Defense Force, although opposed to the government in Khartoum, nevertheless refrained from joining the VAT. Traditionally, political organizations in Sudan have expressed personal loyalty and ambition rather than political principles. An exception was the Sudanese Communist Party, founded in 1944.
Judicial system. In 1983, al-Nimeiri replaced all existing legal laws with Muslim Sharia law based on the Qur'an. They included such punishments as cutting off hands and feet, as well as throwing stones. In 1986, Sharia law was abolished and a judicial system based on the Anglo-Indian civil code was temporarily restored. In 1991, there was a return to Islamic law, which caused discontent and resistance on the part of mainly Christians, as well as the population of the southern regions of the country, who adhere to traditional local beliefs.
Armed forces. Until 1924, the Sudanese troops were part of the armed forces of Egypt, then under the name of the Sudan Defense Forces and under the command of British officers became purely Sudanese military units. In 1954, the British were dismissed from officer posts, and the country's armed forces were named the Sudanese Army. In 1998, Sudan had a military force of just over 100,000 and could quickly mobilize tens of thousands of members of the People's Defense Forces, militia units subordinate to the National Islamic Front. Sudan received modern types of weapons from Libya, Iraq and China.
local authorities. After the Second World War, the process began to replace the English district commissioners, endowed with broad powers, with local councils with territorial rather than tribal jurisdiction. A system was introduced for the appointment of local government inspectors, who took over many of the administrative functions of the district commissioners. The rights of provincial governors were also curtailed. After 1958, the military regime tried to strengthen the role of the provinces; for this purpose, provincial councils were created, which included elected and appointed members, headed by the head of the council appointed from the center. In addition, a local executive agency provinces, and each province had its own budget. But in practice, the work of the soviets proceeded extremely sluggishly, and after the revolution of 1964 they almost ceased to function. The resumption of civil war in the 1980s and the desire of the National Islamic Front to centralize the country in the 1990s led to a reduction in power local authorities management.
Foreign policy. In the period 1967-1971, significant assistance came to Sudan from the USSR and countries of Eastern Europe. During the time of President al-Nimeiri, the strengthening of ties with the West began. The military coup of 1989 led to the establishment of close relations with Libya, which had a negative impact on relations with Western countries. After Iranian President Rafsanjani's visit to Sudan in December 1991, many Western and moderate Arab states curtailed their relations with Sudan, as it blocked with states professing Islamic fundamentalism. Sudan itself has refused to receive aid from the United States, saying that the Americans are using it to carry out espionage activities. Main business in Sudan international organizations, in particular the UN, during this period was the delivery of humanitarian food aid to the starving population of the southern regions of the country.
See below

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 favor of separation in a popular referendum. 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.

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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.

Sudan on Africa map
(all images are clickable)

The difficult colonial past had a detrimental effect 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. The northern regions of the country are occupied by the Libyan and Nubian deserts.

Tropical desert climate, in the zone of which 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 is there a seasonal difference in temperature indicators. In winter, the thermometer can drop to +4 ° C, and in summer months rise up 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. Or rather, its absence in the 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. The highest executive body is the Government, the legislative body is the National Assembly. The territory of the country is divided into 17 states. There are over 30 active political parties in Sudan.

Arabic is recognized as the official language. The vast majority of the 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 the poorest countries in the world. 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 of 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. The Egyptian pharaohs who conquered Kush proclaimed Christianity in it. But in the 7th century, the territory of the state was captured by Muslim Arabs. They turned the local population into slaves and began to strictly spread 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 a free country. In 1956, she was successful, Sudan was proclaimed independent state. But internal strife began. 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 the separation of 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 fruits can also be attributed to the sights of this African country.

Sudan photo

Sudan is located in the northern part of the mighty African continent. When mentioned in official documents and when officially addressed, it is customary to call it 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 remaining borders are land, and look like this: on the western border - Chad, on the northwestern border - Libya, the northern border - Egypt, along the southeastern border with Ethiopia and Eritrea, and in the southwest with the 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 an ongoing basis (do not dry out during the drought period) 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 land, and also act as the country's waterways. 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 near the sea coast, manganese, iron and marble are being mined.
Due to climatic conditions vegetable world practically non-existent in the north of the country. In the southern and central regions there are savannahs 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 regions, heterogeneous tropical forests can be found. They grow quite interesting specimens of the 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 pays great attention to environmental protection, therefore 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 of tropical deserts is constantly preserved, 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. In the central regions, the climate is transitional, but on the eve of the rainy season, it is not uncommon sandstorms.
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: the 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

Detailed map of Sudan in Russian online. satellite map Sudan with cities and resorts, roads, streets and houses. Sudan on the world map is the largest African state in the northeastern part of the continent, located on the shores of the Red Sea. The capital is the city of Khartoum. The official language is Arabic, but English is also widely spoken and applicable in various fields.

Sudan - Wikipedia:

Population of Sudan- 39 578 828 people (2016)
Capital of Sudan- Khartoum
Sudan dialing code - 249
Internet domains of Sudan-.sd
Languages ​​spoken in Sudan- English, Arabic

Climate of Sudan transition. In the south it is monsoonal equatorial, which gradually turns to desert tropical in the northern part of the country. Average annual temperatures are always high. In summer, the air temperature warms up from +20 C to + 30 C. In winter, it is a little cooler - +16 ... +19 C. There is very little precipitation in some regions, so Sudan is characterized by its dry weather conditions. Sand and dust storms are quite common.

One of the most remarkable regions of Sudan - Nubia, a historical area that has been known since ancient times. The name comes from the ancient Egyptian language and means "gold". This name appeared because of the gold-bearing quartz in the rocky mountains. Even in ancient times, the inhabitants of Sudan learned how to extract precious metals from this quartz.

One of the greatest treasures of Sudan is located in the same place - in Nubia. This is a high, 98-meter rock Jebel Barkal. On the rock you can see the ruins of the majestic temple of Amun, other 12 temples and 3 luxurious palaces. In 2003, all these ancient buildings were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Sudan is a miniature of the whole African continent, which attracts tourists. Beautiful natural landscapes, exotic flora and fauna also make Sudan a popular country for recreation and tourism. Sudan is a great place for divers and scuba divers, as well as for lovers of such entertainment as watching wild birds.

What to see in Sudan:

Archaeological Museum in Khartoum, Museum of Ethnography in Khartoum, National Sudanese Museum, Bay Al-Khalifa House Museum, Gaddafi's Egg Hotel, Omdurman Market, Nyala Airport, Statue of Pharaoh Taharka, Ruins of the Temple of Amun, Temple of the God Apedemak, Mosque Nilin, Pure Mount Jebel, Mussavarat Temples, Tombs of Pharaoh Thanvetaman and his mother, Triumphal Stele on the banks of the Nile, Dinder National Park.