Today we are going to talk about the main river in West Africa. Its about niger river. It is 4.200 kilometers long and is the third longest river on the African continent, after the Nile River and the Congo River. The word Niger is named by the Greeks, or so it is thought, since throughout history this river has been known by different names.
In this article we are going to tell you all the secrets, characteristics, flora and fauna of the Niger River.
Niger river location
This river is located in Guinea and is next to the Fouta Djallon highlands. During the first 160 kilometers of route it has a flow to the north. Further on, it follows a northwesterly direction and is the part of the course where the most upper tributaries receive. These tributaries are the Mafou, the Niandan, the Milo and the Sankarani rivers on the right and the Tinkisso on the left, and it enters Mali.
There is a valley formed by tectonic subsidence that is divided into two faster sections that are submerged by waters that are backed by the Markala Dam and is located about 240 kilometers above the Sotuba Dam near Sansanding. Throughout this stretch, the Niger River takes a more east-northeast direction. In this area, its bed is quite free of impediments so it allows better sedimentation. This entire section is 1600 kilometers long.
Key features
Of all the tributaries of the Niger River, the largest on the right side is the Mopti. Later, some small lakes, streams, and stagnant waters enter a region which are called the internal delta of the Niger. These lakes are located in the part of the left bank and are connected to the Niger River through some channels that can experience some changes in the direction of the flow depending on the season where we are.
In the upper reaches of the river, the lakes become partially flooded. This is a river with a significant economic contribution. Along the estuary we mentioned, there is significant fishing activity during the dry season. This means that fishing is no longer in deep and coastal waters, given the reduced water supply.
River fishing in this river is one of the main jobs in some towns such as the Bozo and Somono in the lake region, the Sorko in the middle Niger, the Kede and the Kakanda between Jebba and Lokoja, and the Wurbo and the Jukun in the BenueOne of the main problems that has severely devastated and disrupted the Niger River's fisheries is the discovery of oil exploration in the delta region. The exploitation of natural resources, including fossil fuels, has a wide range of impacts on the river's flora, fauna, and soils, in addition to deteriorating water quality. You can also learn how the Floods will affect millions in the future. In addition, the climate change It also has a strong impact on the characteristics of the river.
Flora and fauna of the Niger river
Throughout its entire course, we can find various areas of vegetation in West Africa. There is an area where the Niger rises quite a bit because it passes through the Fouta Djallon plateau. This area of the plateau is covered by a type of sedge vegetation that has several tufts of wire interspersed with bare rock surfaces. In this area the vegetation is quite dense.
The rest of the river flows through a savanna, passing through grasslands with short, fairly discontinuous grass. Occasionally, thorny bushes and acacia trees can be seen. In the southern part of the Niger River, there is an area of grassland and tall grass, interspersed with fairly dense forest vegetation. This is due to the fact that all the nutrients carried by the river, which it transports throughout its course, reach the southernmost part. This sedimentation It favors the growth of vegetation, apart from the fact that the river enters the rainforest belt where there is a greater number of precipitations.
Many species of fish can be found in the Niger River and all its tributaries. The main food species for the population are carp, the Nile perch, and the Nile perch. Other types of fauna can also be found along the river, including hippos, two different types of crocodiles and a wide variety of lizards.
Regarding birdlife, we also have a considerable wealth of birds, with geese standing out in the lake regions, and herons and storks along the river and around the lakes. Of particular note is the striking crowned crested stork, which is often seen where there is more open terrain in grassland areas. Pelicans and flamingos can be seen associated with the upper Benue area. Other bird species more associated with the riverbank areas include: white-headed plovers, sandpipers, crocodile birds, red-green foxes and curlews. It is important to mention that the river's ecosystem is at risk due to climate change, which worsens the conditions of these ecosystems.
Formation and threats
The Niger River Basin had its origin from the union of a failed triple union of tectonic plates. That is, after tectonic plates they tried to join but could not due to the separation between the South American and African plates. It happened in the late Jurassic and mid-Cretaceous. It is then that various fractures occurred in the terrain and the sediment layers were deposited to form the Niger River bed.
Among the threats we have to the flora and fauna and ecosystems of this river we have an increase in the human population and the unsustainable use of natural resources. This leads to water pollution and the reduction of animal and plant species. If we also consider deforestation and cultivation on increasingly poor soils, it promotes desertification, further reducing the quality of these ecosystems. Furthermore, the issue of desertification It is a growing problem in many regions of Africa, indirectly affecting the Niger River and its ecosystems.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the Niger River.