Kosti (also Kusti, ar, كوستي) is one of the major cities (population was 173,599) in
Sudan
Sudan ( or ; ar, السودان, as-Sūdān, officially the Republic of the Sudan ( ar, جمهورية السودان, link=no, Jumhūriyyat as-Sūdān), is a country in Northeast Africa. It shares borders with the Central African Republic t ...
that lies south of
Khartoum
Khartoum or Khartum ( ; ar, الخرطوم, Al-Khurṭūm, din, Kaartuɔ̈m) is the capital of Sudan. With a population of 5,274,321, its metropolitan area is the largest in Sudan. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile, flowing n ...
, the capital of
Sudan
Sudan ( or ; ar, السودان, as-Sūdān, officially the Republic of the Sudan ( ar, جمهورية السودان, link=no, Jumhūriyyat as-Sūdān), is a country in Northeast Africa. It shares borders with the Central African Republic t ...
, and stands on the western bank of the
White Nile
The White Nile ( ar, النيل الأبيض ') is a river in Africa, one of the two main tributaries of the Nile, the other being the Blue Nile. The name comes from the clay sediment carried in the water that changes the water to a pale color. ...
river opposite
Rabak
Rabak (ربك) is a city in south-eastern Sudan and the capital of the Sudanese state of White Nile. It is one of the major cities of Sudan, an industrial city in which are located several factories, such as the Nile Cement Company factory, the ...
(the capital of the
White Nile
The White Nile ( ar, النيل الأبيض ') is a river in Africa, one of the two main tributaries of the Nile, the other being the Blue Nile. The name comes from the clay sediment carried in the water that changes the water to a pale color. ...
state)where there is a bridge. The city is served by
Kosti Railway Station and
Rabak Airport
Rabak Airport was an airport formerly serving the cities of Kosti and Rabak in the White Nile State of Sudan. The dirt runways have been overbuilt with housing.
References
Airports in Sudan
{{Sudan-airport-stub ...
.
History
Kosti was founded shortly after 1899 by the Greek merchant Konstantinos “Kostas” Mourikis, who arrived in Sudan along with his brother following the
Anglo-Egyptian victory over the indigenous
Mahdist state. He set up a store on the White Nile, where pilgrims from
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Maurit ...
to
Mecca
Mecca (; officially Makkah al-Mukarramah, commonly shortened to Makkah ()) is a city and administrative center of the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia, and the Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. It is inland from Jeddah on the Red ...
and Southern trade routes crossed. The settlement soon grew to a town and was named after "Kostas", illustrating the important role played by the
Greeks in Sudan
The Greeks in Sudan are small in number (estimated at around 150 in 2015), but still a very prominent community in the country. Historically, this diverse group has played a significant role in the political, economic, cultural, and sporting life ...
, especially in the field of trade.
Economy
The large Kenana
sugar refinery
A sugar refinery is a refinery which processes raw sugar from cane or beets into white refined sugar.
Many cane sugar mills produce raw sugar, which is sugar that still contains molasses, giving it more colour (and impurities) than the white ...
is located in Rabak east of the city.
Kosti is home to the
El Imam El Mahdi University
University of El Imam El Mahdi is a public Sudanese university based in the town of Kosti, Sudan. The university was founded in 1994 as a public university funded by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. It is named in honor of ...
, established in 1994 as a public university funded by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
It is named in honor of
Muhammad Ahmad
Muhammad Ahmad ( ar, محمد أحمد ابن عبد الله; 12 August 1844 – 22 June 1885) was a Nubian Sufi religious leader of the Samaniyya order in Sudan who, as a youth, studied Sunni Islam. In 1881, he claimed to be the Mahdi, an ...
, the leader of the Mahdia revolution in Sudan (1885-1898).
Climate
Kosti, like most of Sudan, has a very dry climate. The climate stays hot throughout the year, even into November temperatures still break 100 degrees.
Gallery
File:Kosti railway station.jpg, Railway Station
File:Kenana sugar Kosti.jpg, Kenana sugar
File:Sudan-Kosti-AirView1936 G-Eric-Matson US-Library-of-Congress.jpg, Kosti aerial view in 1936
See also
*
Railway stations in Sudan
Railway stations in Sudan include:
Maps
* UNHCR Atlas Map
* UN Map
* Different maps Aljabalan map
*
* Sudan and South Sudan Map
Existing and Proposed
* Aswan
* Toshka & Abu Simbel - proposed
* - border
* Wadi Halfa - N - potential bre ...
References
UN population report
{{Authority control
Populated places in White Nile (state)