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, tensions over this disputed area began to escalate in 1992 and remain high
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, gold
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: inadequate supplies of potable water; 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, Desertification
Note: largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its
tributaries
@Sudan:People
Population: 30,120,420 (July 1995 est.)