The Sphere of Influence of Khartoum Conurbation, Sudan (Die Einflußsphäre der Konurbation
von Khartum, Sudan)
Author(s): El-Sayed El-Bushra
Source: Erdkunde, Bd. 30, H. 4 (Dec., 1976), pp. 286-294
Published by: Erdkunde
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25641773
Accessed: 27-01-2016 06:56 UTC
Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/
info/about/policies/terms.jsp
JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content
in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship.
For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].
Erdkunde is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Erdkunde.
http://www.jstor.org
This content downloaded from 41.67.21.5 on Wed, 27 Jan 2016 06:56:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
286
Erdkunde
M.:
Guillaume,
culture
Les amenagements
culture de decrue
et de
de rizi
hydro-agricoles
du Niger.
dans la vallee
1, 1960, S. 73-91.
tropicale,
R. J.: West-Africa.
Suffolk,
L'agronomie
Harrison-Church,
R.:
und Ergebnisse
einer hydrogeo
von Ostnigeria.
Landesaufnahme
Erdkunde,
graphischen
H. 2, 1968, S. 89-100.
Bd. XXII,
Herrmann,
Methoden
im Nigertal
und Landnutzung
Janke, B.: Naturpotential
bei Niamey/Rep.
Jahrb. d. Geogr. Ges. Hannover
Niger.
1973.
fur 1972, Hannover,
: Regenfeldbau
im Niger
und
und Bewasserungsfeldbau
besonders
in Durrezeiten.
ihre Bedeutung
Afrika-Spec
trum, H. 3, 1974, S. 268-277.
W.:
Lauer,
Vom
der Tropen.
math.-naturwiss.
Kl., Nr.
Lit., Abh.
L.
Wesen
Akad.
u. d.
d. Wiss.
3, 1975.
u.
Cartes
J. C. Prat:
d'evapotranspiration
interafr. d'etudes
Comite
Serie
hydrauliques,
1972.
climatologie, Ouagadougou,
Lemoine,
potentielle.
W.:
Der Ablauf
an Beispielen
dargestellt
Sehr., H. 2, 1962, S. 47-81.
der Regenzeit
in Westafrika
aus Ghana.
Giefiener
Geogr.
Manshard,
H.:
Mensching,
Der
Sahel
in Westafrika.
Geogr. Stud., H. 24, 1971, S. 61-73.
: Aktuelle
im
Morphodynamik
Abh.
d. Wiss.
d. Akad.
Ill, 29, 1974, S. 22-38.
Hamburger
afrikanischen
in Gottingen,
B.:
Mohr,
Nr.
Sahel.
Kl.,
Math.-phys.
Die
Reiskultur
44, IFO-Inst.
M.:
Parde,
Afrika-Studien
London,
1969.
U, Paris,
1968.
o. V.:
sur
Etudes
agricole
Etudes
Nr.
des besoins
alimen
1, 1974, S. 55-59.
les possibilites
hydro
d'amenagement
Notes
du Niger.
hydrologiques,
et etudes economiques.
IFAGRA
de la vallee
sur le terrain
Rom
RIA,
couverture
a.
noire
de l'Afrique
Rodier,
J.: Regimes
hydrologiques
l'Ouest du Congo. ORSTOM,
Paris, 1964.
de
Saley, M.:
Perspectives
taires au Niger. Nigerama,
1969.
Munchen,
J. G.: West-Africa.
et rivieres. Collection
Fleuves
1964 a.
o. V.:
de la cuvette
Amenagement
hydro-agricole
des cuvettes et des
toukale. Etudes pedologiques
de Kou
terrasses.
IFAGRARIA, Rom, 1964b.
o. V.:
du Niger
occidental.
Etude
pedologique
1965.
Dakar-Hann,
general. ORSTOM,
o. V.:
Amenagement
hydro-agricole
dans
la vallee
du fleuve Niger.
1970 a.
o. V.:
hydrologique
Monographic
Paris,
moyen. ORSTOM,
Niger
o. V.:
Annuaire
1974, ORSTOM,
THE SPHERE OF INFLUENCE
in Westafrika.
f.Wirtschaftsforschung,
u. Pugh,
W.
Morgan,
1968.
30/1976
Band
OF KHARTOUM
de terrasses
et cuvettes
SOGETHA,
Grenoble,
du Bassin
1970 b.
du Niger.
hydrologique
Paris, 1974.
CONURBATION,
Rapport
du Niger.
Jahresberichte
Le
bis
SUDAN
With 6 figures
El-Bushra
El-Sayed
Zusammenf as sung:
von Khartum,
Sudan.
Die
Konurbation
Nord
alle
Die
Einflufisphare
von
Khartum
und Omdurman)
Routen
nationalen
mit
Kommunikation
der Konurbation
(Khartum,
Khartum
liegt an einem Knotenpunkt,
beherrscht. Die
Leichtigkeit
es
hat
des Landes
dem Rest
der
der
der
edukative,
gemacht, kommerzielle,
moglich
auf den
Dienste
sowohl
und administrative
Bereich auszudehnen.
den nationalen
auch
auf
als
regionalen
wird der
der Kommunikationsmittel
Mit der Verbesserung
auf das ttbrige Land notwendiger
Einflufi der Konurbation
von in Feldarbeit
Eine genaue Untersuchung
weise wachsen.
hat deutlich
erhobenen Daten
gemacht, dafi die Einflufi
Dreier-Kapitale
medizinische
aus einem
sphare der Dreier-Stadt
besteht. Das
sekundaren Hinterland
von
eines Radius
innerhalb
Gebiet
und einem
primaren
erste, das sich auf ein
70 km erstreckt, hat
zum urbanen
Bindungen
der das ganze Land
Fall,
Komplex,
sind. Die
schwach
ziemlich
diese Bindungen
einschliefit,
die bei
Studie hat auch gezeigt, dafi einige der Indikatoren,
von euro
von Stadten
des Hinterlandes
der Abgrenzung
benutzt werden,
und amerikanischen
Geographen
paischen
von
sind auf Grund
nicht anwendbar
im Falle Khartums
starke
soziale
und
wahrend
Unterschieden
okonomische
im zweiten
in den
sozio-okonomischen
Gegebenheitcn.
unternommen
ein Versuch
ist dennoch
Nichtsdestoweniger
der
und das Grofihandelsgebiet
das Hospitalworden,
zu bestimmen.
Dreier-Stadt
Khartoum conurbation, the national capital of the
Democratic Republic of the Sudan, ismade up of the
three cities of Khartoum, Khartoum North and Om
durman situated around the confluence of the Blue and
White Niles (Fig. 1). This large urban agglomeration is
themost dominant in the nation culturally, politically,
economically and demographically. The Three Towns
form the largestmarketing and distributing centre in
the country, and provide specialized shopping, medi
own
cal, and educational facilities not only for their
as
to
render
at
So
nation
the
for
also
but
large.
region,
these services for a large number of people throughout
the country, the urban complex has, during the last
seventy years, developed a well-organized network of
communications.
The
Khartoum
conurbation
is located
at a nodal point commanding all national routes, and
as such it is the most accessible by river, rail, road
and air (Doxiadis, 1959). Although for a vast country
This content downloaded from 41.67.21.5 on Wed, 27 Jan 2016 06:56:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
El-Sayed
""*N
==
El-Bushra:
The Sphere
ROADS
ALLSEASON
MOTOR
-----
DRY SEASON MOTOR ROADS
'
=
\
Conurbation,
HALFAs-f
METALLED
ROADS
|=Q=EEE^
^j^^WACM
*
Jjf
v_
\L
\
%7
M kerma
^^ABU
*\
.^^T^^^
AprilandNovember)
chad!
(f
Vif
^^Jr''^^^
/i \ ^gM^?SX I
VVff
^seiH*PlIhogalab
v- *|
/*
\
ABU/'^fTR^
central
a f r ik a n
v>
republic
OMDURMAN
1/
\x
KHARTOUMNORTH
CT\
Boundary7/ \ ^../_
/
**\\_
"1 ^ERRpSEIRESl|i
^IllSfe
V
N
f -n
\yiro\
rumbekW===
\
/
/
^.
^TC^-^^S
"/f-.^yambio
V
j
\
X
U&ENNAR
%
%\
//%kadugli
V *^sF---\
*
ff
^>U^^^""~f"~"K==-^W
^!i^v\
4==^qeneina^=^^^^=?^.
/?
port SUDAN^=
hamad
W|l
^
^ik
^^^^
dongolajw^
i
287
Sudan
^ ^
SUBSIDARY LANDING GROUND jr >k __ , \
(Subsidary landing grounds are seasonal,
and generally unserviceable between
V
of Khartoum
"V
NAVIGABLERIVERS
MAIN
ROUTE
AERODROME
-20?
"
tfjr:
_f_s f *^
of Influence
\^^f^^^J2E!T
\\
'v
T^*^
frXv'-X.^^-^
\w|?J^'mule/ (
1
\
i
/([
_[_VJ,_2^_30*
Fig.
1: Sudan:
like the Sudan the existing means of transport are
inadequate, the urban area enjoys the easiest and
quickest connections with the rest of the country.With
the continuous improvements in themedia of commu
kenya
f(
(uganda
x
E
\_36?_38?
n_34'
communications
nications, the impact of the conurbation on the sur
rounding countryside is bound to increase. A short
review
of the various
means
of communications
ating from the capital city will
This content downloaded from 41.67.21.5 on Wed, 27 Jan 2016 06:56:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
oper
throw some light on
288 Erdkunde Band 30/1976
the hinterland analysis which follows. Using the data
collected from over one hundred villages in the sur
rounding region of Khartoum Urban Complex, an
attempt will be made in this paper to delimit some of
its service
while road transport is by far dominant in the imme
diate hinterland of the Three Towns (Fig. 1). Over
500 buses leave Khartoum urban area each week to
other centres in the country indicating the significance
areas.
Accessibility
Located at the junction of theBlue andWhite Niles,
the Khartoum
have
settlements
always
been
easy
aproach from practically all directions. Although the
Nile is obstructed by a series of rapids to the north
of the confluence, theWhite Nile provides an impor
tant link between Khartoum and the Southern Sudan.
The city is an important river port and handles most
of the trafficoriginating in the southern region.Khar
toum
has
once
a
a week
steamer
service
with
DON
GO
l
to
Juba
located at 1,745 Km. to the south. The Blue Nile, on
the other hand, is of little use to steamer transport
because of themarked seasonality of its flow and the
fact that its course is obstructed by two dams neither
of which has locks (Hill, 1965). Nevertheless, a num
ber of locally built craft use the river to transport
goods from the Sennar and Wad Medani areas to
Khartoum (Fig. 1).
The railhead reached Khartoum over seventy years
ago. At present the urban area is easily accessible from
the various parts of the country, and forms an impor
tant nerve centre of rail traffic in the Sudan. There
are daily rail services between Khartoum and other
major centres, and no less than 160 trains leave Khar
toum Central Station each week to the various parts
of the country. Rail transport for both passengers and
freight is the most important over the long distance,
A
J^lllPl
j oVV MEROWE
I ED DEBBA34?
^^^^"^""^^^^^^^^V
KASSALA
^
HALFA
/^^^Hlff^^^^^^/^oNew
GEOAREF
1*4003 20
I ll 7/?
EL FASHER^=================^
/
|
ELOBEIDjUlll
AKAL
I MAL
/
j-*'
j
/
w
^"""N.
^
f|j|
JUBA
/--1
\
O F27 LANDING
PORT
^
8737 LANDING
PORT
KHARTOUM
AIRPORT
?
4-10FLIGHTTIME 0 500 Kms
Fig. 3: Weekly
*
^S~V
\
^ KHARTOUM
^^^^^====^/-?*
'
^GENEINA
/^^^^^
.'~*-'\..-'
I_._I_I_1_I
air traffic from Khartoum
j
egypt
y
libya
/\.!
/
ljk0^|j|
qDONGOLA
chad
\\
|
{ -!
jCf
KHARTOUMj^^-*_XAj
KHARTOUM
PERWEEK
FROM
\ BUSSERVICES
\ ?> SHENDI
^sC^L DELE,Q
\^
/
f
ED DUEIMfl
MEDANI
O HI WAD
\
MANAGILI
\
distance
bus
services
>w
I
j ethiopia
I
X
\J
I
^^^y
? GEDAREF
C) SENNAR
SINGA
KOSTI
Fig. 2: Long
urbation
centra iT'V
I
african
'v
republic
X?
0_100_200km
_i_i_
from Khartoum
?-~-)
con
yi.^Ay'-?\
uganda
V>-,
\
Fig. 4: Sudan: Telephone traffic(trunklines)
This content downloaded from 41.67.21.5 on Wed, 27 Jan 2016 06:56:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
kenya
El-Bushra:
El-Sayed
The Sphere
of motor-transport (Fig. 2). Although information on
the volume of motor traffic is lacking, the number of
both buses and trucks entering the Three Towns is
considerable.
operating
are
there
Furthermore,
the urban
between
over
and
complex
250
other
buses
settle
ments in the immediate hinterland. The daily com
muters
come
usually
to work,
attend
school,
a
pay
visit to one of the hospitals or clinics, see a private
doctor, do some shopping, settle a dispute in the courts
of law, or simply
come
for entertainment.
About
3,000
lorries engage in the transferof freshvegetables, fruits,
milk, eggs, chickens and building materials from the
surrounding region into theThree Towns.
Considering that both distance and climate affect
the
of rail and
road
services
between
Khar
running
conurbation
and the rest of the nation,
air trans
of great
becomes
are over
There
port
importance.
toum
seventy flightsper week fromKhartoum to the various
parts of the country (Fig. 3), thereby emphasising the
nodality of the capital city. Moreover, almost all
settlements in the Sudan are directly or indirectly
connected with theCapital through a network of tele
phone and telegram lines, and the main radio and
television
are
stations
to
be
at
found
Omdurman
(Fig. 4). With thewidespread use of transistor radios,
the influenceof Radio Omdurman has penetrated deep
into every corner
now
cover
which
in the countryside.
Khartoum
and
TV
The
Gezira
services
Provinces
bring extensive areas under the influenceof theThree
Towns. Moreover, the fact that there is almost 100%
of press
is another
concentration
toum
area,
and publications
manifestation
in the Khar
of
the
cultural,
political and economic leadership of the triple capital.
Although there is no organized circulation of news
papers in the immediate hinterland of the Three
Towns, as in the case ofWestern cities, daily papers
are read by some villagers within a radius of 50 km.
from the urban complex. Some of the villagers who
provide the capital with itsdaily supplies of vegetables
and milk, return home with one of the daily papers.
Other major centres in the Sudan receive their daily
papers
from Khartoum
circulation
of
by
or
air. However,
other
publications
bus
and
newspapers
the
in
both urban and rural areas is seriously limited by the
low
level
of
As
literacy.
such
circulation
of
news
papers cannot be used as an index to delimit the hin
terland of theThree Towns.
This brief review of the various means of communi
cations
has
demonstrated
that
the Khartoum
conur
bation is themost accessible by rail, river, road and
air,
as well
as
being
the nerve
centre
of
telecommuni
cations in the country. Ease of communications has
made it possible for the triple capital to
provide a
wide range of administrative, educational, medical,
commercial and industrial functions at both the regio
nal and national levels. It iswith the service areas of
these functions that the remaining part of this paper
is concerned.
of Khartoum
of Influence
Sudan
Conurbation,
289
Hinterland Study
all
Practically
towns,
or
large
cater
small,
for
a
population which is often larger than their own. Popu
lation distribution to the east and west of Khartoum
conurbation is very slight because of arid conditions.
The absence of cities of any magnitude within a radius
of 180 km. from theThree Towns is probably due to
the large size of the conurbation (the 1973 Census
puts the population of the three cities at 800,000),
togetherwith sparse population and poor agricultural
potentialities. In a way, the low purchasing power of
the rural population has retarded the development of
urban centres of any size within a considerable dis
tance
from
the Khartoum
nearest
The
complex.
major
cities of importance are Wad Medani at 180 km. to
the south along the Blue Nile, Ed-Dueim at 190 km.
to the south along theWhite Nile, and Shendi at 160
km. to the north on themain river (Fig. 5). Kassala
to the east and El Obeid to the west are located at
approximately 430 km. and 415 km. from theCapital
respectively.
In their endavour to investigate the degree of inter
that
relationship
exists
town
between
and
region,
geo
graphers and others have used certain indices to de
limit the service areas of cities. Since it is clear that
urban
services
and
points
at a certain
cannot
functions
with the same degree
city, the resultwill be
the city rather than a
1953). As the cities are
be
discharged
of intensity from the central
a series of hinterlands around
single unified region (Smailes,
not equally accessible from all
hinterland
distance,
are
boundaries
expected to be irregular in shape rather than follow a
concentric
such as medical
Indices
pattern.
tional facilities, wholesale
and
insurance
bus
facilities,
and
educa
and retail trade, banking
services
and
newspaper
circulation have been employed by European and
American geographers to delimit the sphere of influ
ence of cities (Smailes, 1944, 1946, 1947; Dickinson,
1930, 1964; Green, 1950).
However,
as
some
of
the
above
services
are
not
extended beyond the limits of theThree Towns them
selves, itwill not be possible to use such indices in the
delimitation
circulation
of
areas.
service
of newspapers
As
from
indicated
the Khartoum
the
earlier,
Conur
bation is limited by both inadequate transport and a
high rate of illiteracy. In the same way, banking and
insurance facilities are provided to a small section of
the urban
population
and
as
such cannot
be used
as an
index. Similarly, an analysis of bus service is not
expected to promote any definite hinterland bound
aries either, as these services are not yet fully develop
ed. Nevertheless, medical and commercial functions
seem to provide suitable indices for
studying the hin
terland of theThree Towns.
A close examination of fieldwork material collected
from over one hundred villages in the hinterland of
the urban complex has revealed that there are two
This content downloaded from 41.67.21.5 on Wed, 27 Jan 2016 06:56:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
290 Erdkunde Band 30/1976
320 e
/ \\
^
/
/
x
S\
v ?*
r
v-
I
"15?\
K\
\
\
\
fe
F
/
SAMPLEVILLAGE
Fig.
zone,
5: Khartoum
viz:
Primary Hinterland:
*/\'
a) Inner Zone
b) Outer Zone
*a
DELEIQ
^ f"
vv L
U-V'^
$
^?
/
K"'
^
\
15?
7\
\ ' Jk^euWEIOUL
~
'
i
f^\s.A.HEifA0Jl-
.
t* /
_>
conurbation
main hinterlands (El-Bushra,
1970), namely, a pri
mary hinterland and a secondary hinterland (Fig. 5)
each of which to be subdivided into an inner and an
outer
AOkms
*
>
'? ?1
i ?_>
I_JS?
./*_y_Kb
PERSONSMARKEDPRODUCTSOF SAMPLE VILLAGES
V ^GEMStCS
-?F F/?y/rs
bp BEANS *PEAS
PRIMARY
HINTERLAND
-U-UCa C4A/f
G GROUNDNUTS W WATERMELLON
HOSPITALSERVICEAREA
-"J-1"-LUo ONIONS
Wh
AREA
Chi CHILLE
WHOLESALETRADING
5000-'
-iJp POTATOES
b BUTTER
LITTLEORNO INFORMATION Co COTTONSEED
0W/?4
S
5/?/CfS
Ch
CHEESE
.MUNICIPALBOUNDARY
D
VILLAGE
T TOMATOES
C CHICKEN
Fo FODDER
BOUNDARY
PROVINCIAL
i
_1?_i _^^-^1 OTli^
?
'..
*
4A4"*?
**h*^C^
v^^Z-
\
BAHR
l 1/1
X-feEl GETEINA J^i*"yf
\-1**:
#3500001
150000 TOWNS
25000
\
\M^^?RE'FS2Ar
*
20
\'^\
?\
V\
\t \fO^PURMA^M^jlte^
$
*?*
\
ES?SHUBRAB<s?-^^
/ \/
0
^"M?r^iS2^^
^^^^ SHENDI^^
EL KODAB??
\ \ >K
c,^^
/ J\
/
^
^
W?fa^GARALASAL
kX
\
X\
X^
<2Ao
X
/ \
/
^\
-^bpo
\
33^ _ ^
"
^S^^.
^
.X
\X
1
-
E fCCS
Fi F/S?
L LIVESTOCK
m MILK
sphere of influence
a) Inner Zone
b) Outer Zone
As used in this paper, the termhinterland or sphere
of influence covers a wide area which has social and
commercial ties with the Three Towns. These bonds
are either intimate as in the case of the primary hin
Secondary Hinterland:
This content downloaded from 41.67.21.5 on Wed, 27 Jan 2016 06:56:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
El-Sayed
The Sphere
El-Bushra:
of Influence
terland, or loose as in the case of the secondary hin
terland.
of Khartoum
291
Sudan
Conurbation,
perishable stuffs such as beans, peas, potatoes and fish
come
from
areas
at
located
over
100
km.
from
the
centre.Although vegetables, fruits,milk, eggs, chickens,
cheese and fish come fromwithin the primary hinter
land and even beyond, there is a tendency for special
ization by region. Thus theNile valley north of Khar
toum specializes in the production of vegetables which
Primary Hinterland
This is the area which has the closest and strongest
ties with the Three Towns. The primary hinterland
come from such
centres as Geili, Wad
extends for 50 km. to the south, 60 km. to the west,
Ramli,
important
85 km. to the north, and 100 km. to the cast. It almost Wad el Basal on the east bank of theNile, and Wadi
covers
a total
the whole
of Khartoum
Province
Saidna, Es Surarab and El Kodab on theWest bank
having
over
one
of
million
About
of
75%
(Fig. 5). A wide variety of vegetables is also produced
population
(1973).
to the south in places such as
the population of this province live in the Three
along the Blue Nik
Gereif Sharg, El-Ilafun and El-Masid. This part of
Towns
conurbation.
Inner
the hinterland is also important in the production of
Zone:
The inner part of this primary
hinterland is completely dominated by the Three
poultry and dairy. The area along theWhite Nile is
Towns. Villagers in this innerzone do not only depend
important in the production of vegetables and fish.
on the urban
area
serv
Places such as Jebel Aulia (50 km.) and Qarrasa (140
for the provision
of essential
zone
for work.
is the commuter's
This
ices, but also
km.) to the south along theWhite Nile are important
which witnesses the daily comings and goings of peo
fishing centres.As theWhite Nile is a broad, shallow
zone
and slow river, it offers ideal conditions for fishing
the commuter's
is not as well
ple. Although
as that of Western
defined
of the commu
operations (Fig. 5). The areas to the east (150 km.)
cities, most
ters come
and west (100 km.) specialize in the production of
a radius
from an area within
of 40 km.
from
ment
the conurbation.
to the
daily
In addition
of workers,
there
services,
but
also
for
products.
As
the outer
is a considerable
daily
move
move
ment of school children into the urban area. Villagers
in this inner part of the primary hinterland supply
the Three Towns with some of their daily needs of
vegetables, fruits, poultry, dairy products and fish
(Abdalla and SrMPSON, 1965).
Zone:
Outer
The outer part of the primary
hinterland is still completely oriented towards the
urban complex not only for the provision of essential
the marketing
of
of the primary
zone
agricultural
hinterland
lies beyond the 40 km. radius, very few people are
working in the Three Towns. Although primary
schooling
education
is provided
to be
has
in this
fetched
outer
zone,
in the urban
secondary
area.
Simi
larly, except for a small hospital of 40 beds at Abu
Deleiq about 150 km. east of Khartoum North, and
the dispensaries and dressing stations provided at vil
lage level, all medical services are provided in the
Three
Towns.
conurbation
The
extends
service
hospital
for 200 km.
area
to the
of Khartoum
east,
85 km.
to the south along the Blue Nile and the northern
Gezira (Gezira: land between the twoNiles), 140 km.
to the south along theWhite Nile, 80 km. to thewest,
and 120 km. to the north (Fig. 5). This is a much wider
area than that of the primary hinterland,
indicating
poor
medical
facilities
over
an extensive
territory.
The
hospitals of theThree Towns also provide specialized
on a nationwide
a visit to hos
basis. Usually
or
for
to
see
a
is
treatment,
pital
personal
patient
with
combined
and entertainment.
shopping
services
The outer part of the primary hinterland supplies
the Three Towns with substantial amounts of food
stuffs.Highly perishable materials come from an area
within 60 km. radius from the three cities,while less
milk,
butter,
cheese,
eggs,
chickens
and
livestock.
These
parts of the hinterland are dominated by nomadic
groups who specialize in the production of such items.
To sum up, almost the entire supply of daily vege
tables, fruits,milk, eggs, chickens and fishwhich entres
the central market is brought from the primary hin
terland. In turn the Three Towns provide retail and
wholesale facilities for all the villages within the pri
mary hinterland. The above discussion shows that the
Khartoum conurbation depends largely on the sur
rounding countryside for the daily supplies of fresh
food. The area beyond the primary hinterland which
covers
the entire
to as the
is referred
country
secondary
hinterland. This part of the hinterland supplies the
Three
Towns
labour
with
for commercial
as raw materials
food, as well
and industrial
development.
and
Secondary Hinterland
The regionwhich liesbeyond the primary hinterland
has
with
weaker
generally
the conurbation.
social
Most
and
economic
of the essential
relations
services
are
satisfied locally and a visit to the Three Towns be
comes
a
rarity.
Inner
Zone:
The inner part of the secondary
hinterland extends southwards along the line from
Wad Medani (180 km.) toManaqil (170 km.) and Ed
Dueim (190 km.) coinciding with thewholesale trad
ing area of the Three Towns. The boundary to the
east lies beyond Abu Deleiq
(150 km.) to coincide
with the provincial boundary, that to the north passes
through Shendi (160 km.), and that to thewest passes
throughUmm Inderaba located at 80 km. radius from
the conurbation.
This
is an
extensive
area
incorpora
ting in addition to the above large towns smaller ones
This content downloaded from 41.67.21.5 on Wed, 27 Jan 2016 06:56:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
EGYPT
I
libya
,_^JB|
*
a
dongola^
CHAD
|
,?I.-^
--~:Telfashe^
zalingei
J
Ln,
n\
I i
//
\H
di /f
11
\
ar0ma? '//
kassala
^^>gr7r^-)4
bar a /
/
/ *\ ^
/ M
flobfid^
\M
k0st1 \
/ \
_J
*NYALA
NV S'elfula diun/\
roseires
n J75mer
7
e^ros^es
rashad/Ar/
>
j
)
\/
X
'
'
V^--\
/'
aweil
>J
8?
CENTRAL \/
AFRICAN
REPUBLIC
x A
- //
-y
/
N?'
v?_.-\_.-A
X -"
\
bentju
'I''
S-7*kTv
yam bio
^
capital
_i_i-1-1-1-1-1-1-J-1-1-1
24?
to province
capitals
)
WlBOR
Jl
^
nag.shot-^^^v.
t0r|t '\ \
!
28?
30?
Fig.
po^
MAR,D;_Jjuba
_-x.
capitalstodistrictcapitals
"2?22?E26?
ETHIOPIA
}
\ \ \
Jl
\ <ei
-province
_ _ ,, ,__ , a
Iil \\akobo
\
^ ~+
X.._/
^
^
fangak |\\\ x
^rumbek^
i/
( /
jmalakal
t\
wau%^
tonj*\ \^\
^
X
\r_x...^
?
/ tokar^=^
j ^UTUM
)
el gedaref
ED/^.^W(A^MED/N/|
*fl / \\ "v-
-H.
{
\
i9
(-jkhartovum/
/(
^^-^^"^ruwaba
/
j- ennahud^/
y
\
^j
Ashen
j
)
nn
j y
TV
j
n^^-^*****^
=
sudan
>
! ! ed damer^i3
!
!
y^^,,
port
^
! merowe^\ ^
!
!
f";
^ ''
^x.!
n\
! j
geneina
30/1976
Band
292_Erdkunde_
6: Administrative
such as El Kamlin, Rufa'a, El-Hasaheisa and Meselle
miya on the Blue Nile, El Geteina on theWhite Nile
and El-Metemma on thewest bank of themain Nile
opposite Shendi (Fig. 5). The total population living
within this inner part of the secondary hinterland is
^
^"^v
position
UGANDA
32?
KENYA
^
34?
\
36?
38?
of Khartoum
estimated at 3 million most of whom are concentrated
in rural villages. Taking the primary hinterland and
the inner part of the secondary hinterland, no less
than 3.5 million inhabitants are either directly or indi
rectly served by the Three Towns. In this case the
This content downloaded from 41.67.21.5 on Wed, 27 Jan 2016 06:56:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
El-Bushra:
El-Sayed
Khartoum
more
four
a
be serving
its size. Medical,
will
conurbation
than
The Sphere
times
their
that
regions
indicating
are
Towns
less frequent.
surrounding
the Three
are more
hinterland
on
dependent
connections
of
are
transport
local markets,
inadequate.
Beyond
this
inner zone of the secondary hinterland is another zone
inwhich only commercial ties are maintained with the
Three
Towns.
Outer
Zone:
The outer zone that lies beyond
the inner part of hospital and wholesale trading area
the entire
country. As the national
capital
conurbation
centralized
provides
legal,
defence
and commercial
for
functions
encompasses
the Khartoum
administrative,
the entire nation.
The
in the Three
machinery
of governmental
led to the concen
centralization
has
Towns
tration of commercial and industrial enterprise (Fig.
6). This centralization of facilities explains the contin
uous
interaction
country. Highly
higher
Extreme
education
between
are
centralization
national
capital
Khartoum
the rest of the
and
services and
specialized medical
has
also
centralized
of services
serious
in the
and
social
functions
capital.
in the
economic
and
im
plications in a vast country like the Sudan (Sudan has
a total area of 2.5 million km2).
From the commercial and industrial point of view
both the primary and secondary hinterlands are of
vital
importance
to the urban
The
complex.
various
parts of the country provide the Three Towns with
food, togetherwith raw materials and labour for their
industries.Thus, the area to the north of Shendi along
themain Nile provides dates, pulses, wheat and citrus
fruits;
the Gezira
to the south
seed, groundnuts, wheat
western
Sudan
is an
cotton,
supplies
and dura
important
source
cotton
(sorghum); the
of
livestock,
butter, cheese, sesame, dukhn (millet), and gum arabic;
the eastern
gum
Sudan
part of the country
provides
fruits and
and
arabic,
livestock;
sesame,
dura,
the southern
supplies timber and fruits. Dura, the staple
food, is supplied largely by the Gedaref District of
eastern Sudan, and wheat the second cereal is supplied
by theNorthern Province and theGezira. Cheese and
butter come from Ed-Dueim on theWhite Nile, and
El Obeid and Babanousa in western Sudan. Cotton
and cotton-seed from theGezira and Nuba Mts., and
sesame
and
groundnuts
from
eastern
and
km.
530
and
km.
respectively.
Conclusion
However,
they are still oriented towards theThree Towns in case
of specialized medical and shopping facilities. Poor
medical facilites throughout this region force people
tomake the journey to the tripleCapital, even though
the means
at 280
southwards
although villagers within this inner part of the secon
dary
293
Sudan
Conurbation,
ted at Sennar and Er Roseires dams on the Blue Nile
population
educational
and commercial facilities are provided by smaller
townswithin thispart of the secondary hinterland for
with
of Khartoum
of Influence
western
Su
dan provide the raw materials for the textile and oil
mills in theKhartoum area. Sugar, which enters into
themanufacture of a wide range of food products, is
brought fromGeneid and Khashm el Girba factories.
Most of the power used in theThree Towns is genera
The previous discussion has demonstrated that the
Khartoum
as a
conurbation
tre has developed
the country
munications.
regional
and
well-organized
of the relative
ease
a
through
Because
is now
complex
within
the country.
area
of com
network
the urban
cations,
extensive
cen
national
contacts with the various parts of
of communi
an
to comand
able
both
Furthermore,
the telephone and radio are bringing theThree Towns
even
into
more
contact
rest of
the
with
the nation.
The nodality of the tripleCapital has made itpossible
to extend
and
commerce
health,
levels.
and national
services
the
of education,
at the regional
administration
The attempt which has been made in this paper to
delimit thehinterland of theThree Towns has revealed
that
there
are
two main
hinterlands
the
around
a
and a
cities, namely,
primary
intimate
land. The
which
has
former,
cen
hinter
secondary
social and econo
tral
mic tieswith the urban area, has a total population of
about half a million, while the innerpart of the secon
dary hinterland, where such bonds are rather loose,
has about 3million inhabitants.
The study also shows that some of the indices used
by geographers to delimit hinterlands of European and
American cities have not been applicable in case of
Khartoum complex simply because some of the urban
services are not extended beyond the limits of the
Towns
Three
services
themselves.
and
functions
Moreover,
are
provided
as
some
at
the national
of
the
level, the delimitation of some service areas becomes
rather
invalid.
the
Nevertheless,
interrela
existing
tionships between theThree Towns and their immedi
ate region, on the one hand, and thatwith the rest of
the country,
on
the other,
are
real
and
socially
econo
mically.
It has also been indicated that this town and coun
try symbiosis is dynamic in nature depending on tech
advances,
nological
tions. Improvements
have
far-reaching
particularly
in the means
cultural
and
that
of
communica
of communications
economic
consequences
in the urban area and its surroundings.The hinterland
of theThree Towns is expected to expand to the south
and north with perhaps little change to the east and
west.
At
any
rate,
the expansion
southwards
into
the
Gezira will be more vigorous than in any other direc
tion. The Gezira is not only the richest agricultural
region in the country, it is also the area which has the
easiest and quickest connections with the triple capital.
However, the expansion of the hinterland to the east
and west of theThree Towns will be seriously limited
by aridity and sparse population. As the means of
communications
improve
northwards
will be extended in thisdirection.
This content downloaded from 41.67.21.5 on Wed, 27 Jan 2016 06:56:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
the
hinterland
294 Erdkunde Band 30/1976
and
Geographers
and
others
economic
regional
are
who
concerned
have
planning
with
the
commended
division of countries into hinterlands rather than in
administrative
units.
G.
Taylor
(1951),
bert
the use
and
of hinterlands
economic
connec
tions with the central cities than administrative re
gions. Administrative divisions are considered by some
as a legacy of the past and as such they no longer
conformwith the complex social and economic relities
of modern
society.
itmust
However,
be admitted
that
although from the point of view of social and econo
mic
considerations
units
administrative
are
in many
ways superficial, the delimitation of urban hinterlands
is exceedingly difficult, particularly in developing
countries,
where
town
and
country
relations
Leeds
Gil
E. W.
(1951, 1948, 1939), R. E. Dickinson
(1964,
1930), and A. E. Smailes (1944, 1946, 1947, 1953)
others
have
advocated
among
which
have more
realistic
social
Dickinson,
1964.
: "The
are
A. A. and Simpson, M. C:
The Production
and
in Khartoum
of Vegetables
Khar
Province,
Marketing
toum 1965.
Abdalla,
BERICHTE
City
and Regionalism,
Region
London
Functions
and Zones
of Influence
Regional
and Bradford",
vol. 15, 1930.
Geography
of
and
Programme
of the Town, Athens
Term
an Econo
E-s.: The Khartoum
El-Bushra,
Conurbation,
mic and Social Analysis,
Ph. D. Thesis, Univ.
unpublished
of London
1970.
E. W.:
in G. Tay
and Regionalism",
Gilbert,
"Geography
1951.
lor (ed.), Geography
in the 20th. Century,
London
: "The Boundaries
Geo
Government
of Local
Areas",
1948.
Journal, vol. CXI,
graphical
: "Practical
Geo
in England
and Wales",
Regionalism
1939.
Journal, vol. XCIV,
graphical
F. H.
Green,
W.:
"Urban
R.:
Hill,
Sudan
Services",
London
Transport,
in England
Hinterland
An Analysis
of Bus
1950.
nal, vol. CXVI,
Wales,
and
Jour
Geographical
1965.
1953.
of Towns, London
Smailes, A. E.: The Geography
: "The Urban
in England
Geo
and Wales",
Hierarchy
1944.
vol.
29,
graphy,
: "The Urban Mesh
in England
Institute of
and Wales",
vol.
British Geographers,
Transactions
and Papers,
II,
-
References
E.:
C. A.: Khartoum:
A Long
Doxiadis,
a Master
Plan
for the Development
1959.
not
yet fully developed. In other words, although the
division of countries into hinterlands ismore meaning
ful than administrative divisions, it is doubtful wheth
er the formerwill be as practicable as the latter.
R.
1946.
: "The Analysis
of Urban
and Delimitation
158, 1947.
graphy, vol. 32, part 4, N.
Geo
Fields",
E. W.:
E. G. R., Cole,
G. D. H.
and Gilbert,
Taylor,
on the Geographical
of Planning",
"Discussion
Aspects
1942.
Journal, vol. XCIX,
Geographical
UND KLEINE MITTEILUNGEN
DER ER2BERGBAU
-ENTWICKLUNG
/KANADA
IN NORDMANITOBA
UND
STAND
GEGENWARTIGER
Mit 3Abbildungen und 3 Tabellen
Bernhard
Metz
in northern Manitoba,
Canada
mining
status.
and
present
development
This paper reviews the development
indus
of the mining
In particular,
it focuses upon the
try in northern Manitoba.
Summary:
Ore
over
the past
expansion
time the industry has grown
dramatic
which
cance
twenty years, during
from virtual
insignifi
metallic mineral
produc
one of the major
The nickel industry in the Thompson
ing areas in Canada.
region is the most important activity, but a number of other
areas - at Flin Flon,
and Leaf
Snow Lake,
Lynn Lake
- are
also important for their copper and zinc pro
Rapids
of the industry's growth has been
duction. A consequence
to become
into the hitherto
of settlement
expansion
the mining
of the subarctic. Moreover,
industry
base and thereby
economic
the Province's
has diversified
its traditional
reduced
upon agriculture-related
dependence
und
John
R.
Rogge
In weiten
Teilen
vermissen
Kanadas
activities.
Zu
sourcen
auf
der
Seite.
anderen
Dies
erlaubt
uns,
ein
deutig zwischen ,habitation ecumene' und exploitation
ecumene'
Die
erlebte
tobas.
zu unterscheiden*).
vergangenen 20 Jahre brachten eine nie zuvor
der exploitation
Ausweitung
der
der Nordgrenze
Jenseits
ecumene'
Mani
zusammenhangen
den Besiedlung erstreckt sich dieWildnis der borealen
Walder und des Kanadischen Schildes. Dies sind Ge
the concomitant
non-ecumene
ein
wir
sammentreffenzwischen besiedelten Gebieten auf der
einen und Gebieten mit wirtschaftlich nutzbaren Res
*) Diese
Hamelin
Unterscheidung
in: Typologie
and Transactions
ceedings
Sect. I, Vol.
4, 1966, 41-54.
wurde
de
vorgeschlagen
Canadien.
Pecumene
of the Royal
This content downloaded from 41.67.21.5 on Wed, 27 Jan 2016 06:56:12 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Society
von L. E.
- Pro
of Canada,