Darfur

Former province in the west of Sudan; area 196,555 sq km/75,890 sq mi; population (1983) 3,093,700. The capital was Al Fashir. It was divided into three federal states in 1994: Northern, Southern, and Western Darfur. The region is an undulating plateau, with flat, sandy desert in the north. The Marrah Mountains, of volcanic origin, dominate the centre, and rise in Mount Marrah to 3,088 m/10,131 ft. The higher rainfall on the mountains gives rise to many seasonal streams (wadis), which are used for irrigation. The area produces cereals, rice, tobacco, gum arabic, tamarinds, dates, and white melons. In the drier north, camels, goats and sheep are reared.

Darfur was formerly a centre of the slave trade, and was an independent sultanate until conquered by Egypt in 1874.