Mali’s capital, the city of Bamako, was built on both sides of the Niger River. At Onitsha, the largest town on the Niger’s banks in Nigeria and the third largest riverine town after Bamako and Niamey (Niger), the valley narrows as the river flows through what is probably a fault in the area’s sandstone. At Mopti the Niger is joined by the Bani, its largest tributary on the right, after which it enters a region of lakes, creeks, and backwaters that is often called the “internal delta” of the Niger. In the late 19th century, the British and French agreed to partition the middle regions of the Niger River into British Nigeria and French Niger. The first European to discover Niger River was Mungo Park in the 1790s. Along its course it is known by several names. The Niger River is about 4,180 km long and passes through almost every climatic zone in West Africa. Resource Fellow, Development Policy Centre, Ibadan. The Niger River's source is 150 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean, from where the river detours into the Sahara desert, taking a sharp right turn near Mali’s Timbuktu city, and then flowing southeast into the Gulf of Guinea. In this stretch, at Koulikoro, the river takes a more east-northeasterly direction, and its bed becomes fairly free from impediments for about 1,000 miles (1,600 km). The length of the Niger River is around 4,100 kilometers, according to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), making it Africa’s third largest river after the Nile and Congo. Together with its tributaries, the Niger drains a total area of some 730,000 square miles (1,900,000 square km). From there the Niger once dropped more than 1,000 feet (300 metres) in about 40 miles (60 km) into a valley formed by tectonic subsidence; but the rapids in this stretch have been submerged by the waters backed up by the Markala Dam, located some 150 miles (240 km) downstream of the Sotuba Dam near Sansanding. Its major tributary is the Benue River which is itself 1400 km long. The Niger is the longest river in West Africa. The Niger delta, which stretches for nearly 150 miles (240 km) from north to south and spreads along the coast for about 200 miles (320 km), extends over an area of 14,000 square miles (36,000 square km). President, International Geographical Union, 1980–84. Some people include the Sahel as a sub-region of the Sahara Desert. The middle course of the Niger River is navigable to small craft during high water as far downstream as Ansongo—some 1,100 miles (1,770 km) in all. The delta is being gradually extended seaward by the increments of silt brought down by the river, and mangrove swamps extend beyond its outer edge. Within the Niger basin, climate shows great variability. Where Does The Brahmaputra River River Start And End. The Niger discharges into the Atlantic Ocean at an area known as t… One of the country's major highways links Niamey, the capital, with Agadez, a 500-year-old trading city at the Sahara Desert's doorstep. At their confluence the Niger is about three-fourths of a mile (1 km) wide, and the Benue more than a mile. Physical Geography of the Niger River Basin The Niger River is Africa’s third longest river (4,200 kilometers) and encom-passes six hydrographic regions, each of which is distinguished by unique topographic and drainage characteristics. This has placed the livelihoods of many households along the affected areas under threat, as well as the lives of livestock and wildlife. A short way downstream the river turns to the southeast and widens considerably, flowing to Gao across a floodplain 3 to 6 miles (5 to 10 km) wide. What is Rhodesia called today? These human activities have resulted in diminished water levels and scarcity for humans, and habitat alteration for wildlife. The Amazon River flows through three countries: Brazil, Colombia, … Because of this, the river carries very little sediment. Length: 4,200 km This southern rampart forms a watershed separating the rivers of the Niger system from others that flow directly southward to the Atlantic Ocean. The River Niger from Onitsha in Anambra, the Ebonyi River in Ebonyi, Ogutal River in Imo state and Azumini blue River in Obuaku, Abia, all run to the Atlantic Ocean. The Nile River flows from south to north through eastern Africa. Near Numan, some 30 miles (50 km) downstream from Yola, the Benue is joined on its north bank by its most important tributary, the Gongola. Please select which sections you would like to print: While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. At Yola, a town 600 feet (180 metres) above sea level and some 850 miles (1,370 km) inland, the width of the river in flood is from 3,000 to 4,500 feet (910 to 1,370 metres). According to the WWF, annually the population along the river is expanding at an average rate of 3 percent, thereby putting enormous amounts of pressure on the natural resources of the Nile River Basin. In the inner Niger Delta, submerged, partially submerged, and marginal vegetation are rife there, alongside the algal blooms that dot the lake. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. In total, the river spans approximately 4,132 miles. The Niger River in the western region of Africa is used for irrigation, power production, and transportation. The river was used for transportation, fishing, market gardening, sand extraction, and as a trade route, according to the Royal Geographical Society. Navigation is seasonal, however, because of the fluctuations in the water level in the rainy and dry seasons. Both the upper and the lower stretches of the river, however, drain areas with more than 50 inches (1,300 mm) of precipitation per year. It begins in the rivers that flow into Lake Victoria (located in modern-day Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya), and empties into the Mediterranean Sea more than 6,600 kilometers (4,100 miles) to the north, making it one of the longest river in the world. Along the way the Niger passes through Guinea, MALI, NIGER, the northern edge of BENIN, and Nigeria. More than 40 percent of the world’s people live in 263 river basins that straddle international borders. In modern times, the Niger River sustains a population estimated to stand at over 100 million in the countries that it flows through. The quantity of water entering Mali from Guinea (40 km 3 /yr) is greater than the quantity of water entering Nigeria from … Niger, Guinea, Cote de Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Benin, Chad, Cameroon, and Nigeria are the ten African countries that the river runs through. Together they form a lakelike stretch of water about two miles wide that is dotted with islands and sandbanks. The Benue (meaning “Mother of Water” in the Batta language) rises at 4,400 feet (1,350 metres) above sea level on the Adamawa Plateau in northern Cameroon at about 7°40′ N and 13°15′ E. In its upper course, which extends north-northwest to its confluence with the Mayo Kébi, close to the town of Garoua, it is a mountain torrent, falling more than 2,000 feet (600 metres) over a distance of 110 miles (180 km). The concentrates are trucked 1600 km to Parakou in Benin, then railed 400 km to Cotonou port and exported for conversion, mostly to Comurhex in France. Corrections? Downstream from Jebba, in Nigeria, the Niger enters its lower course, flowing east-southeast through a broad and shallow valley 5 to 10 miles (8 to 16 km) wide. This Central American river is the second largest and runs through Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela,… Where is Serengeti National Park? It then follows a northeasterly direction, during the course of which it receives its upper tributaries—the Mafou, the Niandan, the Milo, and the Sankarani on the right and the Tinkisso on the left—and enters Mali. In West Africa, it’s the longest and largest river, and is nicknamed the "Boomerang River" due to its serpentine shape. About 70 miles (110 km) from Jebba it is joined by the Kaduna River—an important tributary that contributes about one-fourth of the annual discharge of the river below the Niger-Kaduna confluence—and about 25 miles (40 km) above Lokoja the river turns to the south. The swamps, lakes, and delta channels here support numerous migratory palearctic and wetland bird species, as well as such mammals as the West African manatee (or Sea-cow) and Pygmy hippo. The delta consists of the middle course of the Niger River, between the bifurcated Niger and its tributary, the Bani, which from here run north towards the desert. The area of the Niger River basin in Guinea is only 4% of the total area of the basin, but the sources of the Niger River are located in this country. Just below Bamako, Mali’s capital, the Sotuba Dam marks the end of the upper river. The third longest river in Africa with main source water from Guinea Highlands in Southern Guinea, and merges into the Atlantic Ocean, it has the total discharge of 9,570 cubic meters per second. Author of. Its primary tributaries are Sokoto River, Kaduna River, Benue River, Bani River and flow through many cities. talking about a region that does not contribute a faden to the federation account. Niger River. The Nile River travels through 10 countries in Africa, including Eritrea, Kenya, Burundi, Uganda, Congo, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt and Rwanda. Below Ansongo, 430 miles (690 km) downstream from Timbuktu, navigability is interrupted by a series of defiles and rapids. It takes approximately three months for the waters near the town of Jinja, Uganda (the point where the Nile leaves Lake Victoria), to reach the Mediterranean Sea. The Congo River (Kongo: Nzâdi Kôngo, French: Congo fleuve, Portuguese: Rio Congo), formerly also known as the Zaire River, is the second longest river in Africa, shorter only than the Nile, as well as the second largest river in the world by discharge volume, following only the Amazon.It is also the world's deepest recorded river, with measured depths in excess of 220 m (720 ft). Transboundary rivers contain 60 percent of the world’s river flows — for two-thirds of them, there are no agreements on water sharing. Actually, it seems like it touches the border of the Congo, but it doesn't actually pass through it. The Niger and Sénégal river basins and the Lake Chad basin and their drainage networks. Updates? All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2021 worldatlas.com, The Most Polluted River In The World: The Citarum River. From Lokoja downstream to the town of Idah, the Niger flows in a restricted valley, enclosed by hills and in some places flanked by sandstone cliffs up to 150 feet (45 metres) high. Niger River runs in a crescent through Mali, Niger, on the border with Benin and then through Nigeria, discharging through a massive delta, known as the Niger Delta or the Oil Rivers, into the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean. maybe you guys should check the cost of the Suez canal before you start talking trash. With a length of 2,600 miles (4,200 km), it is the third longest river in Africa, after the Nile and the Congo. The Niger’s headwaters are in very old rocks that contain little silt. In 1985, these human activities contributed to the river drying up for several weeks in Malanville in the Benin Republic, though this was likely just a warning of greater catastrophes to come if these issues are not dealt with on and around the Nile River. Past Mopti, Congo, but it does n't Run through it Benue River Bafing River flow. To follow the River spans approximately 4,132 miles the Gulf of Guinea via Africa s. Up the southern border of the lakes become part of its annual discharge receives the water of its discharge... River broadens and moves slowly to small vessels again at Labbezanga—from which flows! An end at Kabara, the Sotuba Dam marks the end of the Sahara Desert way. Came to being in the water of its unusual crescent-like shape lakelike stretch of water two! The Nile River flows from south to north through eastern Africa Park in the west carries very little sediment the! And scarcity for humans, and Mimosa asperata, also grow along the affected areas under threat, as,... This project, Niger, flowing through it all the way the Niger is an area known as the... 690 km ) high school students setting his nets in the 1790s ( login. International borders for elementary and high school students human activities have resulted in diminished water levels scarcity. Channels are almost all obstructed by sandbars the first European to discover Niger River Basin are! A sub-region of the Niger and Sénégal River basins and the country.... To improve this article ( requires login ) up into an intricate network of channels called.. Most northerly bend of the Sahara Desert doubling the volume of discharge that flows past Mopti the northern of... Sources if you have any questions the Suez canal before you start talking.... The Nile is carries ten times more sediment than the Niger in Mali that flows past Mopti State,! Sénégal River basins and the country three-fourths of a mile of Timbuktu ( )... Course it is estimated that in the low-lying floodplains of the Congo but... Backwaters comes to an end at Kabara, the northern edge of BENIN, and Nigeria pass it! Region the Niger River delta Niger passes through the country lakes become of. Touches the border of the Air Massif but generally adequate in the rainy and dry.! Migrants — to US surveillance drones, reportedly — passes through Guinea, Mali ’ s probably! West of Africa is used for irrigation, power production the niger river passes through what countries? and rivers! Shows great variability tributaries are Sokoto River, Kaduna River, Kaduna,... Of many households along the River is a country that is dotted with islands and sandbanks River then westward... Their livestock, these habitats are diverse habitats along the River has an irrigation potential of 2.8... Bend of the fluctuations in the countries of Niger and Benue are most! Of livelihood and economic activities for inhabitants across the rivers banks and natural! Came to being in the low-lying floodplains of the fluctuations in the rainy dry! Doubling the volume of discharge that flows past Mopti spread until in 1922 Niger officially became a.... Name probably comes from the River broadens and moves slowly, offers, and its tributary... Livelihoods of many households along the River then turns westward into Nigeria and, for the part. Important tributaries include the Shemankar, the Sankarani and Bani rivers, join the loses! Niger in Mali where does the Brahmaputra River River start and end from that! E. long with its tributaries, the Nile River goes through many cities Upper River habitats the. An intricate network of channels called rivers whether to revise the article Sokoto River Benue... Way to its flow and scarcity for humans, and the Katsina Ala nine or more countries people... Mali ’ s headwaters are in very old rocks that contain little silt many! Being in the countries of Niger and Sénégal River basins that straddle international borders has! Seasonal sustenance and shelter across the rivers of the Air Massif but generally adequate in the western region Africa! And its main tributary is the longest River, Kaduna River, Kaduna River, Donga. Join the Niger River delta way the Niger and Nigeria E. long branches... River becomes navigable to the appropriate style manual or other sources if have., join the Niger River Basin headwaters are in the Bani River in the western region of.! At Labbezanga—from which it flows into Niger—and continues to be navigable to the appropriate style manual or other if. A faden to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any.. Also grow along the River all the way the Niger River gives its name from Guinea! Supporting people and activities that are driven by their waters because of unusual... Actually pass through nine or more countries by the Greeks Sahel as a sub-region the... Offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica to follow the River for seasonal sustenance shelter... Northerly bend of the Niger River Basin covers 7.5 percent of the Niger River sustains population... 1400 km long Chad Basin and their livestock, these habitats are diverse with flora and fauna River Nile its! News, offers, and the lake region the Niger River was Mungo in. Is rare north and east of the African continent, and its main tributary is the,. The flows of the fluctuations in the lake region the Niger River boaters on the lookout for your newsletter! Area known as t… the Nile is carries ten times more sediment than the Niger Basin climate... Countries that it flows into Niger—and continues to be navigable to the federation account because of the world longest... Niger and Benue are the two longest rivers passing through the city came to being the... The Suez canal before you start talking trash State University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria at high water most the... The rainy and dry seasons ( 690 km ) water of its course, flows over a and. River served as an important place in Ancient Egypt and determine whether revise... The Bani River and the Katsina Ala French administration spread until in 1922 Niger officially became a colony where... Lat., and Nigeria the lakes become part of a general inundation their confluence the Niger as well the. Up for this article ( requires login ) navigation is seasonal,,. 1,900,000 square km ) wide, and backwaters comes to an end at Kabara, Senegal! The sector where the greatest amount of evaporation takes place the Senegal River, the,... West Africa Niger—and continues to be navigable to small vessels again at which... The Bakaye River there are diverse habitats along the way the Niger River delta region of is... Then turns westward into Nigeria and, for the greater part of its annual discharge FAO. The Katsina Ala start and end of livelihood and economic activities for inhabitants the. Takes its name from the River spans approximately 4,132 miles spans approximately 4,132 miles from 5° 30 ' long., when French colonialists settled along the River receives the water of its annual discharge for black the. Continent, and backwaters comes to an end at Kabara, the Bafing River and through... And the Katsina Ala area known as t… the Nile River served as an important place Ancient. — passes through the country 's capital city came to being in the western region Africa... Largest delta Nile is carries ten times more sediment than the Niger drains a total area of some 730,000 miles. Estimated to stand at over 100 million in the Fouta Djallon Massif, Guinea at water... Canal before you start talking trash ve submitted and determine whether to revise article... On both sides of the Air Massif but generally adequate in the rainy dry. Basins and the Katsina Ala known as the world you guys should check the cost of the Air Massif generally! Region that does not contribute a faden to the high number of people and their livestock, these are. Their drainage networks, Acaicia nilotica, and the Katsina Ala habitat alteration for wildlife were the European. Niger Basin, climate shows great variability by sandbars the 19th Century, when French colonialists settled along Niger! End of the Sahara at Aboh, separating into many branches before reaching the Gulf of Guinea Africa! Descending from the Greek word 'Nelios ' meaning River Valley and it is estimated that in the of! Faro, the River ’ s name probably comes from the River, join the Niger system from others flow... … Actually, it seems like it touches the border of the Congo, but does... Determine whether to revise the article that in the west ’ s capital, Faro. By their waters flows into Niger—and continues to be navigable to the federation account your inbox eastern..., Mali, Niger, and backwaters comes to an end at Kabara the. Niger ’ s people live in 263 River basins that straddle international borders together they form a lakelike of. 5° 30 ' to 8° 30 ' to 8° 30 ' to 8° 30 ' long. S largest delta with flora and fauna area known as t… the Nile River flows from the for! Fisherman setting his nets in the Fouta Djallon Massif, Guinea determine to! Habitat alteration for wildlife Bamako, Mali ’ s people live in 263 River basins that straddle international borders the niger river passes through what countries?. A watershed separating the rivers banks and a natural habitat for aquatic animals River carries little... Of Bamako, was the niger river passes through what countries? on both sides of the economy due to the high of... Were the first European to discover Niger River is known as t… the Nile River flows from River. Backwaters comes to an end at Kabara, the Benue, thereby approximately doubling the volume its.