The northern part of the river, known as the Niger bend, is an important area because it is the major river and source of water in that part of the Sahara. This made it the focal point of trade across the western Sahara and the centre of the Sahelian kingdoms of Mali and Gao.
What is unique about the Niger River?
Interesting Niger River Facts
The Niger has one of the most unusual routes of any of the major rivers in the world. It starts approximately 150 miles from the Atlantic Ocean (240 kilometers). Instead of flowing to the nearby Atlantic Ocean it instead heads inland, away from the sea into the Sahara Desert.
What does the Niger River provide?
The Niger River and its Inner Delta are vital for agriculture, livestock, fisheries, transport, energy, tourism, and water filtration, as well as as a habitat for a range of fish and other aquatic animals, including a variety of protected species. But, there is a challenge.
How was the Niger River important to civilization in West Africa?
The Niger river provided irrigation and drinking water in the more arid parts of the these empires. The river was a food source providing fish, and other food to the people of the empires. Many civilizations had their beginnings along side a river.
What is the nickname for the Niger River?
Nigeria and Niger take their names from the river. The people who live beside the river have many names for it, such as Jeliba or Joliba (“great river” in Manding), Isa Ber (“big river” in Songhay), Oya, (a Yoruba River Niger goddess), and Kworra or Quorra.
What is Niger known for?
Niger sits on some of the world’s largest uranium deposits, but is one of the “Heavily Indebted Poor Countries” (HIPC). Its economy is based on subsistence agriculture, like crops and livestock, and the export of raw commodities.
Why is the Niger river dangerous?
The health hazards become most serious during the rains, which bring flooding and a sharp rise in water-born diseases. Cholera outbreaks are common. Every year hundreds of people die from this severe diarrhoeal disease which is spread through contaminated water.
What animals live in the Niger River?
Many varieties of fish are found in the Niger and its tributaries; the chief food species are catfish, carp, and Nile perch. Other Niger fauna include hippopotamuses, at least three different types of crocodiles (including the much-feared Nile crocodile), and a variety of lizards. There is a rich collection of birds.
Is Nigeria named after River Niger?
The nations of Nigeria and Niger are named after the river. The people who live along it have a variety of names for it, notably Jeliba in Manding, Isa Ber (“big river” in Songhay), Joliba (a Mandigo word meaning Great River), and Kworra or Quorra.
How did Niger get its name?
The country takes its name from the Niger River, which flows through the southwestern part of its territory. The name Niger derives in turn from the phrase gher n-gheren, meaning “river among rivers,” in the Tamashek language.
What was the largest empire in Africa?
The most powerful of these states was the Songhai Empire, which expanded rapidly beginning with king Sonni Ali in the 1460s. By 1500, it had risen to stretch from Cameroon to the Maghreb, the largest state in African history.
Which of the three West African kingdoms was the largest?
Cards
| Term the three west african kingdoms are | Definition Songhai. Mali, and Ghana |
|---|---|
| Term Where were all three kingdoms located. | Definition In the western part of Africa. |
| Term which kingdom was the largest | Definition songhai |
| Term which kingdom was the smallest | Definition ghana |
What is the culture like in West Africa?
West Africa forms the westernmost region of the African continent. People have occupied the area for thousands of years, and its population is ethnically diverse though culturally relatively similar. The beliefs of native cultures include Islam, Christianity and various traditional African religions.
Where is the end of River Niger?
Нигер/Устья
Who built River Niger?
Feasibility studies and design considerations on the possibility of constructing a bridge across River Niger from Asaba to Onitsha was carried out by the Netherlands Engineering Consultants of The Hague, Holland (NEDECO) in the 1950s, Between 1964 and 1965, French construction giant, Dumez, constructed the Niger Bridge …
What are the major rivers in West Africa?
Geographically, West Africa is predominantly plains. It also features numerous rivers. Major rivers include the Niger, Senegal, Gambia, and the Kolenté (Great Scarcies).