Sudd

The Sudd is one of the largest freshwater wetlands in the world, a vast seasonal swamp in central South Sudan formed by the White Nile’s floodplain.

The Sudd has long been a barrier to overland travel and a defining feature of the Nile’s hydrology. In the late 20th century the Jonglei Canal project was begun to divert some floodwaters around the Sudd but was suspended before completion; the scheme remains a key episode in the region’s modern history.

Occupying a large inland area of central South Sudan, the Sudd sits within the Nile basin and spans seasonal floodplain areas across several administrative states.

• Seasonal extent: A vast seasonal freshwater wetland whose flooded area varies dramatically with the annual Nile floods - from tens of thousands to over 60,000 square kilometres depending on season and year.
• Ecological and historical note: Historically remote and difficult to navigate, the area is ecologically important for waterbirds, fish and seasonal pastoral use and was the focus of the halted Jonglei Canal project intended to alter flood patterns.

What to See #

• Reedbeds and swamp plains: Extensive reedbeds and papyrus-dominated swamps that form the core wetland habitat and support seasonal wildlife concentrations.
• Permanent channels and floodplain pools: Permanent river channels and temporary floodplain pools created by the White Nile's seasonal inundation, shaping navigation routes and island habitats.
• Jonglei Canal area: Sites associated with the historical Jonglei Canal project area where engineering works were proposed to alter seasonal flooding regimes.