Niger Geography

What is the terrain and geography like in Niger?

Overview

The Republic of Niger covers 1,267,000 square kilometers (490,000 square miles). Landlocked, it is bordered by seven countries. Niger is in the heart of the Sahel, the transitional zone between the tropical West African coast and the Sahara Desert. Northern Niger is part of the Sahara, with vast expanses of rocky and sandy wilderness broken only by occasional oases. "Sahel" in Arabic means "border." From north-central Niger to its northeast corner are the Air and Djado Mountains with peaks rising to 1,850 meters (6,000 feet) while partially arable savanna is found south of the 15th parallel.

Niger's capital city, Niamey, sits on the banks of the Niger River, which flows through much of West Africa and is the 12th longest river in the world and the third-longest in Africa.

Geography - note

landlocked; one of the hottest countries in the world; northern four-fifths is desert, southern one-fifth is savanna, suitable for livestock and limited agriculture

Niger Use of Natural Resources

Geographic Location	Africa
Total Area	489,189 Square Miles 1,267,000 Square Kilometers
Land Area	489,073 Square Miles 1,266,700 Square Kilometers
Water Area	116 Square Miles 300 Square Kilometers
Land Boundaries	3,540 Miles 5,697 Kilometers
Irrigated Land	284 Square Miles 737 Square Kilometers
Border Countries	Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina Faso 628 km, Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km
Geographic Coordinates	16 00 N, 8 00 E
Terrain	predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north
Highest Point	2,022 Meters
Highest Point Location	Mont Bagzane 2,022 m
Lowest Point	200 Meters
Lowest Point Location	Niger River 200 m
Natural Resources	uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, petroleum
Time Zone	UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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