 Location of Biʾr Tawīl, shown as a white area between Egypt (yellow) and Sudan (blue). The Ḥalāʾib triangle is shown in green. | |
| Biʾr Ṭawīl · بئر طويل | |
| Residents | unknown |
|---|---|
no value for residents on Wikidata:  | |
| surface | 2,060 km² |
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | |
Bi'r Tawil, Arabic:بئر طويل, „Well Ṭawīl ”or literally“ long well“Is the only mainland area next to that Marie Byrd Land in the Antarctic, the officially one Terra Nullius, a no man's land. That between Egypt and Sudan east of the Nils located approximately trapezoidal desert area does not belong to any state and is not claimed by any state. The area is completely uninhabited and hardly offers anything worth seeing. For safety reasons, it is not recommended to travel to this area.
background
location
Biʾr Ṭawīl is located between Egypt and Sudan, south of the 22nd parallel. The distance to Lake Nasser is about 240 kilometers to the Red sea 330 kilometers. The east-west extension is about 95 kilometers in the north and 46 kilometers in the south. The north-south extension is between 25 and 31 kilometers.
Border disputes between Egypt and Sudan
Since independence Sudans of Egypt on January 1, 1956, which only after Free Officers military coup It became possible in 1952, there are still unresolved border disputes between the two countries. Ḥalāʾib triangle Respectively. In this area there is both a state border and an administrative border from the time of the Anglo-Egyptian occupation. On January 19, 1899, the international border between the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan and Egypt in the so-called Anglo-Egyptian condominium-Convention[1] set at latitude 22nd north. Since the administration of this area was made easier from Sudan, on November 4, 1902, a separate border was drawn up in the sense of an administrative border by the government of the United Kingdom set. The areas enclosed by both borders are the Ḥalāʾib triangle and Biʾr Tawīl.[2]
Any attempt to gain state sovereignty over Biʾr Tawīl automatically undermines the respective position in the dispute over the Ḥalāʾib triangle. For this reason, neither Egypt nor Sudan lay claim to this 2,060 km² area, and it is in fact, but not necessarily, a no man's land under international law.
Actually, there is a third controversial area, the Wadi Halfa Salient, a bulge to the north along the Nile. The area with its former 52 villages is now almost entirely from Lake Nasser flooded. There are therefore no disputes in this area.
Given the remoteness and inhospitable environment, there are no residents to be found in Biʾr Ṭawīl.
Recently there have been attempts by individuals to establish a micro-nation in this area. So proclaimed z. For example, on June 16, 2014, the American Jeremiah Heaton called this area the Kingdom of North Sudan - as a birthday present, so to speak, for his seven-year-old daughter Emily, who was then also made princess. Of course, Heaton had also designed a flag for the kingdom.[3] There appears to be no legal basis for this taking and the kingdom has no international recognition.
getting there
Because of its remote, isolated location, access to this area is extremely difficult. The closest airport in the area is the 1 Abu Simbel airport
(IATA: SECTION) at Abu Simbel in Egypt. Its distance as the crow flies is 220 kilometers.
There is no road connection to Biʾr Ṭawīl. However, there should be different slopes.
To return to Sudan or Egypt, you need a residence permit for the respective country to be obtained in advance. Crossing the northern border of Biʾr Ṭawīl is difficult because it is monitored by Egyptian border units.
A transit from Egypt to Sudan or vice versa via Biʾr Ṭawīl could be assessed as an illegal border crossing into the respective destination country, because a valid entry note is missing. There is currently only one border crossing between the two countries 2 Qusṭul ashes.
mobility
There are no roads in Biʾr Ṭawīl, only desert slopes. Due to the nature of the ground, you need either four-wheel drive vehicles or motorcycles.
Tourist Attractions
In Biʾr Ṭawīl there are several mountains, mountain valleys, the wadis, and springs. The eastern part of the area consists mainly of mountain ranges, the western part of sand and stone desert.
- Unknown currency
- 2 Biʾr Ḥasmat ʿUmar (بئر حسمة عمر). Source at 451 meters above sea level.(21 ° 45 ′ 41 ″ N.34 ° 0 ′ 19 ″ E)Unknown currency
- Unknown currency
- 4 Gebel Bartazuga (جبل بارتازوجا, Gebel B’atar Zagu). 514 meter high mountain.(21 ° 43 ′ 31 ″ N.33 ° 33 '12 "E)Unknown currency
- 5 Gebel Ḥaǧar ez-Zarqāʾ (جبل حجر الزرقاء). 662 meter high mountain.(21 ° 53 ′ 0 ″ N.33 ° 58 ′ 0 ″ E)Unknown currency
- 6 Wādī Ṭawīl (وادي طويل) (21 ° 49 ′ 25 ″ N.33 ° 43 '42 "E)Unknown currency
- 7 Khawr Abu Bard (خور أبو برد). The valley branches off from the Wādī Ṭawīl.(21 ° 48 ′ 4 ″ N.33 ° 47 ′ 27 ″ E)Unknown currency
As you can see from the tire tracks, the Wādī īawīl and Khawr Abū Bard valleys are also used as routes today.
activities
As in all desert areas far away from civilization, you can watch the night sky undisturbed here.
There is of course no legislation here that could criminalize any activity.
kitchen
Food and water must be brought completely with you, as there is nothing to buy here and plants are very sparse.
The equipment includes B. water filters, camping stoves, which also work with wood if possible, and a reliable lighter such. B. the Swedish FireSteel.
accommodation
There are no settlements. Tents and sleeping utensils must be carried.
security
Entry to Biʾr Ṭawīl is considered to be an illegal border crossing, at least by the Egyptian authorities.
Of course, there are no government agencies that can provide security and help in emergencies.
It is absolutely necessary to bring navigation devices, power generators / solar panels and a satellite telephone that you could fall back on in an emergency. In any case, you have to be aware that in the best case scenario it can take several days for help to arrive - if at all. In these circumstances, it is advisable that survival equipment, including clothing, footwear, knives, tools, first aid kits, and medication, is carried, trained in its use, and easily accessible.
As part of the preparation, it is necessary to coordinate with potential helpers. In any case, they must know the terrain and the security forces, especially the Egyptian ones, and have suitable vehicles.
In view of the enormous effort to ensure the safety of travelers, a trip to this area is not recommended.
health
As already mentioned, medication and bandages, which also cover the emergency, must be carried with you.
This also includes sunscreen and warm clothing.
trips
- Biʾr Ṭawīl borders in the north Egypt and in the south Sudan. In principle, however, you can only continue your journey to the country for which you have a valid entry stamp.
Individual evidence
- ↑Condominium means jointly exercised rule. Until Sudan's independence, the country was administered from both Egypt and the United Kingdom.
- ↑Sudan - Egypt (United Arab Republic) Boundary, International Boundary Study No. 18, Bureau of Intelligence and Research, United States Department of State, July 27, 1962.
- ↑Ileana Najarro: Va. Man plants flag, claims African country, calling it ‘Kingdom of North Sudan’, Message of Washington Post from July 12, 2014. - Diego González: El hombre que conquistó Bir Tawil para su hija, Contribution in Frontera's blog from July 16, 2014.
