Physical Characteristics
The Niger River is the main river in West Africa and one of the largest rivers
in Africa. It extends over 4,180 km long and it makes a crescent shape. It
passes through Guinea, Mali, Niger, across the border of Benin and then through
Nigeria. It then reaches the South Atlantic and enters the Niger Delta. Its two
Deltas, the Inland Delta and the Coastal Delta are enormous. The coastal delta
in Nigeria covers 35,000 square kilometres and is the largest in Africa. The
Inland Delta of 6,000 square kilometres is West Africa's greatest inland water.
An interesting feature of the Niger is the Inland Delta, which forms where its
gradient decreases. The result is lakes, marshes and braided streams the size of
Belgium. The annual floods also make the Delta very productive for fishing and
agriculture.
in Africa. It extends over 4,180 km long and it makes a crescent shape. It
passes through Guinea, Mali, Niger, across the border of Benin and then through
Nigeria. It then reaches the South Atlantic and enters the Niger Delta. Its two
Deltas, the Inland Delta and the Coastal Delta are enormous. The coastal delta
in Nigeria covers 35,000 square kilometres and is the largest in Africa. The
Inland Delta of 6,000 square kilometres is West Africa's greatest inland water.
An interesting feature of the Niger is the Inland Delta, which forms where its
gradient decreases. The result is lakes, marshes and braided streams the size of
Belgium. The annual floods also make the Delta very productive for fishing and
agriculture.