Khartoum

Khartoum ({{ll|Arabic}} الخرطوم al-Ḫarṭūm "elephant trunk") is the capital of Sudan, as well as the capital of the state of Khartoum. It is located at the point where the White Nile, flowing north from Uganda, meets the Blue Nile, flowing west from Ethiopia. The merged Nile flows north towards Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. The city proper has a population of well over a million inhabitants, making it the second largest city in the country, but forms with its neighbours, joined by bridges, Khartoum North (al-Khartûm Bahrî) and Omdurman (Umm Durmân) a metropolis totalling probably over four million. Khartoum is located at 15°35'17" North, 32°32'3" East (15.588056, 32.534167). http://earth-info.nga.mil/gns/html/cntry_files.html

Early history

Khartoum was founded in 1821 as an outpost for the Egyptian army, but grew as a regional center of trade, including the slave trade. Troops loyal to the Mahdi Muhammad Ahmad laid siege to Khartoum starting on March 13, 1884 against the defenders led by British General Charles George Gordon. The heavily damaged city fell to the Mahdists on January 26, 1885. Omdurman was the scene of the bloody battle (September 2, 1898) in which British forces under Sirdar Horatio Kitchener defeated the Mahdist forces defending the city.

Related Topics:
1821 - Egypt - Slave - Mahdi - Muhammad Ahmad - March 13 - 1884 - British - Charles George Gordon - January 26 - 1885 - Battle - September 2 - 1898 - Sirdar - Horatio Kitchener

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The town of Khartoum was mainly built by the Greek Community, where they raised the first high-rise buildings in now called Ghamhouria Street. The Greek Embassy and Greek Community block still exists today, reminding the constructive influence of the Greeks throughout Sudan.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~