Port Sudan
Encyclopedia
Port Sudan is the capital of Red Sea State, Sudan
; it has 489,725 residents (2007). Located on the Red Sea
, it is the Republic of Sudan's main port city.
in 1909 as the terminus of a rail linking the Red Sea to the River Nile. It served as a new modern port to replace Sawakin. The railroad was used to transport the nation's cotton
and sesame seed, as well as sorghum
, from the agriculturally rich areas of the Nile valley to markets.
Port Sudan is known among tourists for its excellent scuba-diving and beaches. Tourists, as well as far larger numbers of Muslim
pilgrims en route to undertake their once-in-a-lifetime Hajj
to Mecca
, use Port Sudan as a departure point to cross the Red Sea to Jeddah
in Saudi Arabia
.
, gum arabic
, oilseeds, hides and skins, and senna are the chief exports. Port Sudan has an oil refinery
to handle the petroleum
from onshore wells, as well as an oil pipeline to Khartoum
that was completed in 1977.
A rail line links the Red Sea
to the River Nile. The railroad was used to transport the nation's cotton
and sesame seed from salt-evaporating pans.
The city is home to Red Sea University
, established in 1994.
and from salt-evaporating pans.
, West Africa
ns, and small minorities of Asia
ns (mainly India
ns) and a handful of Europe
ans.
One of Sudan's major motorways, links Port Sudan to Khartoum
via Wad Medani, Gedaref, and Kassala
. There is a major road that goes north to Halaib, but it is neglected. Also since 2009 a new highway linking Port Sudan via Atbara has been opened, reducing the travel time between Khartoum and Port Sudan drastically.
Port Sudan New International Airport
(PZU) is located close to the city.
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
; it has 489,725 residents (2007). Located on the Red Sea
Red Sea
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
, it is the Republic of Sudan's main port city.
History
Port Sudan was founded by the BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1909 as the terminus of a rail linking the Red Sea to the River Nile. It served as a new modern port to replace Sawakin. The railroad was used to transport the nation's cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
and sesame seed, as well as sorghum
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
, from the agriculturally rich areas of the Nile valley to markets.
Tourism
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
pilgrims en route to undertake their once-in-a-lifetime Hajj
Hajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
to Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
, use Port Sudan as a departure point to cross the Red Sea to Jeddah
Jeddah
Jeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
.
Economy
The harbour is in the mouth of a gulf continuing seaward through a coral-free channel 18–26 meters (60–85 ft) deep. Imports include machinery, vehicles, fuel oil, and building materials. CottonCotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
, gum arabic
Gum arabic
220px|thumb|right|Acacia gumGum arabic, also known as acacia gum, chaar gund, char goond, or meska, is a natural gum made of hardened sap taken from two species of the acacia tree; Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal...
, oilseeds, hides and skins, and senna are the chief exports. Port Sudan has an oil refinery
Oil refinery
An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where crude oil is processed and refined into more useful petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt base, heating oil, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas...
to handle the petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
from onshore wells, as well as an oil pipeline to Khartoum
Khartoum
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
that was completed in 1977.
A rail line links the Red Sea
Red Sea
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
to the River Nile. The railroad was used to transport the nation's cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
and sesame seed from salt-evaporating pans.
The city is home to Red Sea University
Red Sea University
Red Sea University is located in the city of Port Sudan, in the state of The Red Sea in northern Sudan...
, established in 1994.
Geography
Port Sudan has a near-desert climate, requiring the acquisition of fresh water from Wadi Arba'at in the Red Sea HillsGeography of Sudan
Sudan is located in northeastern Africa. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west and Libya to the northwest...
and from salt-evaporating pans.
Climate
Port Sudan has an arid climate with very hot summers and moderately hot winters. Temperatures can easily exceed 30C in winter and 45C in summer. Over 90% of the annual rainfall falls between October and January, mostly in November. Average annual rainfall is 76 mm. The average temperature in Port Sudan is 28.4C (83.1F). Port Sudan receives about 3200 sunshine hours annually.Demographics
The population, mainly African, includes the indigenous BejaBeja people
The Beja people are an ethnic group dwelling in parts of North Africa and the Horn of Africa.-Geography:The Beja are found mostly in Sudan, but also in parts of Eritrea, and Egypt...
, West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
ns, and small minorities of Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
ns (mainly India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
ns) and a handful of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
ans.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1906 | 4,289 |
| 1941 | 26,255 |
| 1973 | 132,632 |
| 1983 | 209,938 |
| 1993 | 305,385 |
| 2007 Estimate | 489,275 |
| 2008 Estimate | 517,338 |
Transportation
Khartoum
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
via Wad Medani, Gedaref, and Kassala
Kassala
Kassala is the capital of the state of Kassala in eastern Sudan. Its 2008 population was recorded to be 419,030. It is a market town and is famous for its fruit gardens. It was formerly a railroad hub, however, as of 2006 there was no operational railway station in Kassala and much of the track...
. There is a major road that goes north to Halaib, but it is neglected. Also since 2009 a new highway linking Port Sudan via Atbara has been opened, reducing the travel time between Khartoum and Port Sudan drastically.
Port Sudan New International Airport
Port Sudan New International Airport
Port Sudan New International Airport is an airport in Port Sudan, Sudan.-Scheduled services:...
(PZU) is located close to the city.