# Atbarah River

> river in Africa

**Wikidata**: [Q753897](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q753897)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atbarah_River)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/atbarah-river

## Summary
The Atbarah River is a major river located in Africa, originating in Ethiopia and flowing through Sudan. Also known as the Red Nile, Black Nile, or Atbara, it is classified as a larger natural watercourse and serves as a significant tributary within the northeastern African region.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type:** River (classified as a larger natural watercourse).
- **Alternative Names:** Red Nile, Atbara, Black Nile, Atbara river.
- **Countries Located In:** Ethiopia, Sudan.
- **Coordinates:** 12.421305555556°N, 37.085277777778°E; 17.678333333333°N, 33.971944444444°E.
- **Wikidata Description:** river in Africa.
- **Wikipedia Title:** Atbarah River.
- **Sitelink Count:** 42.

## FAQs
**Where is the Atbarah River located?**
The Atbarah River is situated in Northeast Africa, specifically flowing through the countries of Ethiopia and Sudan. Its geographical coordinates span from approximately 12.42°N, 37.08°E to 17.67°N, 33.97°E.

**What are the alternative names for the Atbarah River?**
The river is also referred to as the Red Nile, Black Nile, Atbara, and Atbara river. These names reflect its regional significance and hydrological characteristics.

**What is the relationship between the Atbarah River and Ethiopia?**
The Atbarah River originates in Ethiopia, a sovereign landlocked state in the Horn of Africa with a population exceeding 128 million and its capital in Addis Ababa. The river's source is situated within Ethiopian territory before it flows into Sudan.

**What is the relationship between the Atbarah River and Sudan?**
The Atbarah River flows through Sudan, a vast federal republic in Northeast Africa that gained independence on January 1, 1956. Sudan covers approximately 1.88 million square kilometers, shares borders with seven nations including Ethiopia, and has its capital in Khartoum.

## Why It Matters
The Atbarah River holds significant geographical and hydrological importance in the Nile River system, as evidenced by its alternative names "Red Nile" and "Black Nile," which denote its substantial impact on the larger watercourse's flow and sediment load. Originating in the highlands of Ethiopia—a nation characterized by its significant elevation and water sources—and traversing through Sudan, the river acts as a critical natural resource bridging two major African nations. Its presence influences regional agriculture, water availability, and historical settlement patterns in Northeast Africa, making it a vital feature in the ecological and geopolitical landscape of the Sahel and Horn of Africa.

## Notable For
- **Alternative Nomenclature:** Known distinctively as the "Red Nile" and "Black Nile," highlighting its unique sediment contributions compared to other regional waterways.
- **Transnational Flow:** Serves as a natural geographic link originating in the landlocked sovereign state of Ethiopia and crossing into the federal republic of Sudan.
- **Historical Significance:** The river and its surrounding areas were the site of the historical Atbara Campaign, as documented in public domain imagery.
- **Geographic Span:** Covers a wide longitudinal and latitudinal range across Northeast Africa, connecting the highlands of the Horn of Africa to the Sahel region.

## Body

### Geographic Location and Coordinates
The Atbarah River is a larger natural watercourse situated entirely within the African continent. Its geographical trajectory is marked by two primary coordinate points: 12.421305555556°N, 37.085277777778°E and 17.678333333333°N, 33.971944444444°E. These coordinates illustrate the river's path as it traverses the landscape from its higher elevation origins to its lower reaches.

### Relationship with Ethiopia
The river originates in Ethiopia, a sovereign state and the second-most populous country in Africa, with an estimated population of 128,691,692 as of 2023. Ethiopia is a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa, covering an area of 1,104,300 square kilometers. The nation operates in the Africa/Asmara (UTC+03:00) time zone, utilizes the birr (ETB) as its currency, and has Addis Ababa as its capital. Politically, Ethiopia is governed by a Federal Parliamentary Assembly, with Taye Atske Selassie serving as the head of state since October 7, 2024, and Abiy Ahmed serving as the head of government since April 2018. The country is a member of the United Nations and the African Union, and its demographic indicators include a birth rate of 33.123 per 1,000 (2019), a death rate of 6.439 per 1,000 (2019), and a life expectancy of 65.037 years (2016). Ethiopians are identified by the demonym "Ethiopian," and the nation's anthem is "March Forward, Dear Mother Ethiopia."

### Relationship with Sudan
After leaving Ethiopia, the Atbarah River flows into Sudan. Officially the Republic of the Sudan (جمهورية السودان), the country is a sovereign state and federal republic located in Northeast Africa. Sudan gained its independence on January 1, 1956, replacing the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. The country spans a vast area of 1,886,068 square kilometers (Britannica cites 1,840,687 sq km as of April 2025) and is situated in the Sahel and North Africa regions, spanning latitudes 9.34°N to 22.2°N and longitudes 21.81°E to 38.58°E. Sudan's capital is Khartoum, and its population was estimated at 48,945,000 in 2025 (with a preferred source citing 40,533,330 in 2017). The nation's highest point is the Deriba Caldera at 3,042 meters, and its lowest point is the Red Sea at sea level. Sudan shares borders with seven countries: Egypt, Libya, Chad, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. The country operates on UTC+02:00 (since November 1, 2017), uses the Sudanese pound as its currency (replacing the Sudanese dinar in 2007), and recognizes Arabic and English as its official languages. The dominant religious jurisprudence is Malikism (Maliki school). The current head of state is Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (since April 12, 2019), and the head of government is Abdalla Hamdok (since August 21, 2019). Sudan is a member of the United Nations (since 1956), the African Union, the League of Arab States, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and is a founding member of Interpol. Its administrative divisions include states such as Gezira, Al Qadarif, Kassala, North Darfur, South Darfur, West Darfur, White Nile, Blue Nile State, Sennar, Red Sea, Khartoum, South Kordofan, North Kordofan, Northern State, and River Nile. The country's ISO codes are SD, SDN, and 729, and it uses the international telephone code +249 and the top-level domain .sd.

### Historical and Visual Documentation
The Atbarah River is historically notable for the Atbara Campaign, a military event documented in a public domain image hosted on Wikimedia Commons. The image, titled "River War 1-13 Atbara Campaign," was created by an unknown author and is available via the following URLs:
- **Image URL:** https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/River_War_1-13_Atbara_Campaign.jpg
- **Thumbnail URL:** https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/River_War_1-13_Atbara_Campaign.jpg/960px-River_War_1-13_Atbara_Campaign.jpg
- **Commons Page:** https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ARiver%20War%201-13%20Atbara%20Campaign.jpg
The image is classified under the public domain license type, reflecting its historical and encyclopedic value. The river's Wikipedia title is "Atbarah River," and it maintains a sitelink count of 42 across various language and project editions.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. GeoNames