Sudan used to be the largest and one of the most geographically diverse states in Africa before South Sudan broke away as a sovereign state in 2011. It is located in the northeast of Africa and bordered by countries such as Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan and also, the Red Sea.
The Blue Nile and White Nile rivers meet in its capital, Khartoum, to form the Nile river. The climate of the region is both arid, as well as tropical with grasslands and savanna. The dry regions are plagued by sandstorms, known as haboob, which can completely block out the sun. Critically endangered species in Sudan include the waldrapp, northern white rhinoceros, tora hartebeest, slender-horned gazelle, and hawksbill turtle.
With a population of over 30 million people, most are considered to be ethnically Arab Nubians. They are almost all Muslim and the majority speak Sudanese Arabic. Traditional clothing widely worn by Sudanese men is the galabiya, which is a loose-fitting, long-sleeved, collarless ankle-length garment also common to Egypt. Sudanese women wear the thobe or thawb, a white or colorful long, one piece cloth that women wrap around their inner garments, covering their head and hair.
