Nubia (/ˈnuːbiə, ˈnjuː-/) is a region along the Nile river encompassing the area between the first cataract of the Nile (just south of Aswan in southern Egypt) as well as the confluence of the blue and white Niles (south of Khartoum in central Sudan) or, more strictly, Al Dabbah. Nubia was the seat of several civilizations of ancient Africa, including the Kerma culture, the kingdom of Kush, Nobatia, Makuria and Alodia.