Geography of Niger
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| Continent | Africa |
|---|---|
| Region | Western Africa |
| Coordinates | 16°00′N 08°00′E / 16.000°N 8.000°E |
| Area | Ranked 22nd |
| • Total | 1,266,700 km2 (489,100 sq mi) |
| • Land | 99.98% |
| • Water | 0.02% |
| Coastline | 0 km (0 mi) |
| Borders | Land boundaries: Algeria 951 km Benin 277 km Burkina Faso 622 km Chad 1,196 km Libya 342 km Mali 838 km Nigeria 1,608 km[1] |
| Irrigated land | 736.6 km² (2005) |
| Total renewable water resources | 33.65 km3 (2011) |
| Highest point | Mont Idoukal-n-Taghès, 2,022 m |
| Lowest point | Niger River, 200 m |
| Climate | desert to tropical |
| Terrain | mostly desert plains and sand dunes, hills in the north |
| Natural resources | uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum |
| Natural hazards | recurring droughts |
| Environmental issues | overgrazing, soil erosion, deforestation, poaching |
Niger is a landlocked nation in West Africa located along the border between the Sahara and Sub-Saharan regions. Its geographic coordinates are longitude 16°N and latitude 8°E. Its area is 1.267 million square kilometers, of which 1 266 700 km² is land and 300 km² water, making Niger slightly less than twice the size of France.[1]
Political geography
Surrounded by seven other countries, Niger has a total of 5,834 km of borders. The longest border is with Nigeria to the south, at 1,608 km. This is followed by Chad to the east (1,196 km), Algeria to the north-northwest (951 km), and Mali to the west (838 km). Niger also has short borders in its far southwest frontier (Burkina Faso at 622 km and Benin at 277 km) and to the north-northeast (Libya at 342 km).[1]
Physical geography
Climate
Niger's climate is largely hot and dry, with much desert area. In the extreme south, there is a tropical climate on the edges of the Niger River Basin. The terrain is predominantly desert plains and sand dunes, with flat to rolling plains in the south and hills in the north. Lake Chad at the southeast corner of the country is shared between Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon.
Extreme points
- Northernmost point: Tripoint with Algeria and Libya, Agadez Region: 23°31'N.[2]
- Southernmost point: Benin/Niger/Nigeria tripoint, Dosso Region: 11°42'N
- Easternmost point: border with Chad, Agadez Region: 16°00'E
- Westernmost point: border with Mali and Burkina Faso, Tillabéri Region: 0°07'E
- Highest point: Mont Idoukal-n-Taghès, Aïr Massif, Agadez Region:2,022 m (6,634 ft)[1]
- Lowest point: Niger River at Nigeria border, Dosso Region: 200 m (656 ft)[1]
Natural resources
Niger possesses the following natural resources:
Agricultural geography
Land in Niger is used as arable land (660 km² of land in Niger is irrigated) and as pasture. There are some forests and woodland. The table below describes the land use in Niger, as of 2011.
| Use | Percentage of Area |
|---|---|
| arable land | 11.79[1] |
| permanent crops | 0.05[1] |
| other | 88.16[1] |
Waterways
Environment
Natural hazards
Recurring droughts are a hazard in Niger.[10][11] The 2012 Sahel drought, along with failed crops, insect plagues, high food prices and conflicts is currently effecting Niger causing a hunger crisis.[12] Many families in Niger, still recovering from the 2010 Sahel famine, are being effect by the 2012 Sahel drought.[11]
Current issues
Current environmental issues in Niger include: overgrazing, soil erosion, deforestation, desertification and endangered wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion), which are threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction.[citation needed]
International agreements
Niger is a party to the following agreements:
- Biodiversity
- Climate Change
- Desertification
- Endangered species
- Environmental Modification
- Hazardous Wastes
- Nuclear Test Ban
- Ozone Layer Protection
- Wetlands
Niger has signed, but not ratified the Kyoto Protocol and Law of the Sea.[13][14]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "The World Factbook". CIA.gov. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
{{cite web}}: More than one of|work=and|website=specified (help) - ^ http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/collection/limitsinseas/IBS002.pdf
- ^ "France backs Niger in talks with Areva over uranium mining". The Guardian. 6 February 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- ^ a b c "THE MINERAL INDUSTRY OF OTHER COUNTRIES OF AFRICA" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. 1994. p. 21. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- ^ "NIGER: Coal the new weapon to stop desert advance". Integrated Regional Information Networks. 1 July 2004. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- ^ "CROSS-BORDER DIARIES" (PDF). Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. June 2007. p. 52. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- ^ Els, Frik (19 June 2013). "Semafo up 4% after tracing new trend over 10 kilometers in Niger". Mining.com. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- ^ Issa, Ousseini (15 May 2013). "Protecting Niger's Desert Salt Pans". Inter Press Service. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- ^ "As refinery opens, Niger joins club of oil producers". Agence France-Presse. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- ^ http://www.oxfam.org/sites/www.oxfam.org/files/bp168-learning-the-lessons-sahel-food-crisis-160413-en_1.pdf
- ^ a b "West African food crisis 2012". trust.com. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
- ^ Fominyen, George (24 May 2012). "Coming weeks critical to tackle Sahel hunger ? U.N. humanitarian chief". trust.cm. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
- ^ "UNTC". United Nations.
- ^ "UNTC". United Nations.
Further reading
- L. Herrmann, K. Stahr and K. Vennemann. Atlas of Natural and Agronomic Resources of Niger and Benin, "Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft" (German Research Foundation), the University of Hohenheim. (No date). Retrieved 2008-02-22.
