Location: Northern Africa, along the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea

Map references: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area:
total area: 2,505,810 sq km
land area: 2.376 million sq km
comparative area: slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US

Land boundaries: total 7,687 km, Central African Republic 1,165 km, Chad 1,360 km, Egypt 1,273 km, Eritrea 605 km, Ethiopia 1,606 km, Kenya 232 km, Libya 383 km, Uganda 435 km, Zaire 628 km

Coastline: 853 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: administrative boundary with Kenya does not coincide with international boundary; administrative boundary with Egypt does not coincide with international boundary creating the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km, the dispute over this area escalated in 1993, this area continues to be in dispute

Climate: tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season (April to October)

Terrain: generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in east and west

Natural resources: small reserves of petroleum, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver

Land use:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 24%
forest and woodland: 20%
other: 51%

Irrigated land: 18,900 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: contaminated water supplies present human health risks; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification
natural hazards: dust storms
international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity

Note: largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its tributaries

NOTE: The information regarding Sudan on this page is re-published from the 1995 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Sudan Geography 1995 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Sudan Geography 1995 should be addressed to the CIA.