Upper Nubia facts for kids

Upper Nubia is the southern part of a region called Nubia. It's located along the Nile River, further upstream than Lower Nubia. Think of it like this: the Nile flows north, so Upper Nubia is higher up the river and at a higher elevation.

The exact size of Upper Nubia can change. It depends on how different experts or researchers define it.

Where is Upper Nubia Located?

This map shows different areas of the Nile River in Upper Nubia.

When we talk about geography, Upper Nubia is the area between the Second and Sixth cataracts of the Nile. A cataract is a rocky, shallow part of a river. It makes the water flow fast and can be hard for boats to pass.

Sometimes, people use the term Middle Nubia. This area is between the Second and Third cataracts. If they use Middle Nubia, then Upper Nubia starts from the Third cataract and goes upstream.

Here are the different parts of Upper Nubia along the Nile River:

Upper Nubia Today

From a political point of view, Upper Nubia is mostly in the northern and central parts of modern-day Sudan. It stretches from the border with Egypt in the north. It goes south all the way to Khartoum. Khartoum is a big city where the White Nile and Blue Nile rivers join together.

A Look Back in Time: Upper Nubia's History

This map from 1891 shows Upper Nubia and the nearby region of Abyssinia.

Historically, Upper Nubia was a very important area. It was influenced by the Nubian parts of New Kingdom Egypt. It was also home to powerful kingdoms like the kingdom of Kush and Meroe.

Upper Nubia was a key link between the Mediterranean world and inner Africa. Many important trade routes passed through it. Because of this, it became a place where many different cultures grew and mixed.

Here are some of the civilizations that existed in Upper Nubia: