(, , "Esparto Valley") is a city in the Northern state of Sudan on the shores of Lake Nubia near the border with Egypt. It is the terminus of a rail line from Khartoum and the point where goods are transferred from rail to ferries going down the lake. As of 2007, the city had a population of 15,725. which is equal to 97–98 % of possible sunshine. In addition to this, the town receives a mean annual amount of rainfall of .

History

thumb|A 19th-century photograph of [[21st Lancers|British troops aboard a steamer connecting Wadi Halfa with Asyut during the Mahdist War.]]

left|thumb|Photo from 1910 showing the ruins of a medieval Nubian church near Wadi Halfa

Ancient Period

Archaeological evidence indicates that settlements have existed in the area since ancient times, and during the Middle Kingdom period, the Egyptian colony of Buhen across the river existed until the Roman period. However, the area of the contemporary city itself was never truly occupied by the Roman Empire, and was just out of bounds of Roman jurisdiction.

Medieval Period

During the Medieval Ages the city became a gateway for pilgrims travelling to Mecca, and fell under the jurisdiction of the Christian Kingdom of Makuria.

Contemporary Period

The modern town of Wadi Halfa was founded in the 19th century, when it became a port on the Nile for steamers from Aswan, such as the Nubia. During the Turko-Egyptian conquest of 1820, Wadi Halfa was used as a stopping point for troops headed south. Communications developed in the latter half of the 19th century, with a telegraph line to Egypt connected in 1866 and ill-fated attempts to build a railway to Kerma in 1873 The eventual establishment of the Sudanese rail head at Wadi Halfaconnected via steamer to the Egyptian network via a port just south of Asyutcaused the site to eclipse the former caravan site at Korosko.

thumb|left|Chained Sudanese prisoners carrying British baggage through Wadi Halfa in 1898.

In 1885, Wadi Halfa entered a period of turmoil after falling under the Mahdist War regime. Conflicts frequently broke out on the border, and in 1889, Abd al-Rahman al-Mahdi's army entered the town on the way to the Battle of Tushki. It extends, via Atbara, to El Obeid and beyond into southern and western Sudan.

thumb|right| Wadi Halfa RR Hotel, 1936

A river monitoring station functioned in Wadi Halfa between 1911 and 1931, to monitor changes associated with the Aswan reservoir, but from 1931 to 1962 it was moved to Kajnarty, 47 kilometres to the north of the town. A railroad hotel was built in the town during the 20th century, and during World War II, Wadi Halfa was a communications post for Allied forces in Africa. By 1956, the town had grown to a population of 11,000. Worst affected were the Nubians who demonstrated in Wadi Halfa on 23–24 October 1960 against being resettled. Subsequently, on 26 October demonstrations took place in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, which had to be dispersed by police using tear gas.

In 2005, a museum and interactive Nubian village were planned for Wadi Halfa, but by 2014 nothing had been done.

Economy

right|thumb

Agriculture plays an important role in local economy.

References

Further reading

  • De Simone, Costanza. "Wadi Halfa Development and Museum","Incontro Mediterraneo" 13, 2008.
  • De Simone, Costanza. Nubia and Nubians: The ‘Museumization’ of a Culture. Saarbrücken: Lambert Academic Publishing, 2015.