Basic Data about Sudan:

Country Name: Republic of the Sudan
Area: 2,506,000 square kilometers
Population: 37 million
Capital: Khartoum
Language: Arabic/English
Currency: Sudanese Pound


◆［Geography］

Located on the north-east of the Africa, Sudan is the largest country　in this continent. (Approximately 7 times the size of Japan) Not only　does it cover a vast piece of land, but it is also at the crossroads　and plays the role as a geographical bridge between the Mediterranean world, the Arabian world and Africa since the ancient times. The Greeks used to call the land beyond the south of Egypt“Ethiopia” meaning “the land of people with brown skin.” This name later became“Sudan” after it was translated into Arabic by the Arabs. Sudan, in those days, was the land between the present day Sudan to Senegal, the western parts of Africa. However, with the passing of time, it became the name of this country.
There are two Nile rivers running through Sudan. One is the White Nile, which flows from Lake Victoria below the equator, and the Blue Nile, which flows from Lake Tana in Ethiopia. Both Niles meet at the capital city of Khartoum and continues on as a great river to the borders of Egypt. With these two Niles and the vast river area, Sudan can truly be called “the Land of the Nile.” The natural environment of Sudan changes along the flow of the Nile River from the marshes and forests in the south, the river basin in the central region, and to the desert area in the north. As such, people and cultures with a variety of backgrounds emerged in each region.


◆［History］

Sudan is a young republic that became independent in January 1956 but it is also a country with a glorified history. The history of Sudan before the Stone Age is not known but the archeological studies on the existing relics and pyramids, which is the largest numbers(about 1,000) of pyramids in one country in the world, proves that in the year 2000BC Sudan was a prosperous empire with a sophisticated civilization. In the 9th century BC, the Kingdom of Kush flourished around the city of Napata, which occupied Egypt in 750BC and established their 25th kingdom. The Kingdom of Kush (Cush?) relocated its capital to Meroe, near the Fourth Cataract, in the middle of the 6th century BC, (hereinafter known as the Kingdom of Meroe), and strengthened its unique black African culture as it broke away from Egyptian influences. The people of the Kingdom of Meroe established settlements and lived by breeding livestock along the vast savannah of the Nile and growing millet (grain). Meroe was also an area that was the world's leading producer of iron. The city flourished economically with the robust trade of iron products to other countries and its influence permeated deep beyond the Sahara Desert and throughout Africa. Up to the 17th and 18th century, Sudan went through a series of historical transitions with the continuing invasion by other ethnic groups and the rise and fall of the kingdom but with the invasion by Egypt in 1820, a state self-government was established under a governor-general and the capital was moved to Khartoum. In 1881, Mohammed Ahmed Mahdi, a religious leader, led a revolt against the Egyptian military successfully freed Sudan but was conquered again by General Kitchener of Britain in 1899 and a condominium Anglo-Egyptian government was formed. However, Egypt became independent from Britain in 1922 and with the revolution in Egypt in 1952, a movement arose within the Sudan government and the people which lead to total independence in January 1956. Since then Sudan has steadily traveled the road to build a new nation in the African continent.


◆［Landmarks and memorials］

Sudan's charm lies in its geographical location and its diversity cultivated by the Nile, which flows through the northern and southern parts of the country. Not only does Sudan have natural resources, it also has various characteristics due to its people, culture and history.
Ancient historical relics recorded in the world heritage are scattered in the Nubian Desert lying in northern Sudan. The people living along the Nile are farmers. The extensive pasture land in the mid-western area of Sudan is a land of nomads. The high peaks of Jabal Marrah mountain range are near Chad boarder. Since the ancient days, Eastern Sudan, a mountainous area with the Red Sea stretching out along its border, prospered as the gateway to the Arabian Peninsula. The southern part of Sudan, which has great wetland called “the Sudd” and tropical rainforests, is a kingdom of wildlife and birds where people live on fishing and stockbreeding. The area surrounding the capital city of Khartoum, where the White and Blue Nile merge, is the political and economical center of Sudan and is part of the so-called Three Cities which also includes Omdurman, the ancient capital, and Al-Khartoum Bahri, the industrial city. Visitors to Khartoum will enjoy the grand view of the White and Blue Nile intermingling as well as experience a modern city full of vitality.