The Republic of Niger is the largest nation in West Africa. It is a landlocked country bordered on the north by Libya, on the east by Chad, on the southwest by Benin and Burkina Faso, on the west by Mali, and on the northwest by Algeria.
Its total area is 1,267,000 square kilometers, and is
slightly less than twice the size of Texas.
The capital of Niger is Niamey.
Most of Niger (four-fifths) is desert. It is one of the hottest countries of the world, and has three climate zones, the Sahara Desert on the north, the Sahel to the south of the desert, and the Sudan in the southwest corner. The southernmost fifth of the total area is savanna, which can support livestock raising and some agriculture.
Archaeological research has shown that there have been human inhabitants in the area which is now Niger for 600,000 years. There have been many empires, and the latest foreign power to control Niger was the French in the twentieth century. Niger proclaimed its independence in 1960, and the last French troops left the country in 1974. Recent history from the 1970s to the 1990s has been marked by tension between Niger and Libya, which has repeatedly tried to influence the country.
Many fauna live along the Niger River, which flows through southwestern Niger, supporting an active tourist industry in that area. A portion of Lake Chad in Niger supports the fishing industry.
Uranium, tin and coal are the chief minerals. Agricultural products include cotton, sorghum, peanuts, cassava and millet. Construction materials are also important export products.
The population of Niger is 12,894,865 (2007 est.)
French is the official language. Hausa and Djerma are also spoken.
Major religions are Islam, traditional African religions, and Christianity.
Web Sites
- CIA: The World Factbook
- The African Studies Center of the University of Pennsylvania
- Norwegian Council for Africa
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