Niger River

Niger River
The Pont Kennedy across the Niger at Niamey, early 2019
Map
EtymologyUnknown (possibly from Berber for River Gher or local Tuareg word n-igereouen meaning "big rivers")[1]
Location
Countries
Cities
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationGuinea Highlands, Guinea-Conakry
 • coordinates09°05′50″N 10°40′58″W / 9.09722°N 10.68278°W / 9.09722; -10.68278
 • elevation850 m (2,790 ft)
MouthAtlantic Ocean
 • location
Gulf of Guinea, Nigeria
 • coordinates
5°19′20″N 6°28′9″E / 5.32222°N 6.46917°E / 5.32222; 6.46917
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length4,200 km (2,600 mi)[2]
Basin size2,117,700 km2 (817,600 sq mi) to 2,273,946 km2 (877,975 sq mi)[3]
Width 
 • average1.24 km (0.77 mi) to 1.73 km (1.07 mi) (Lokoja)[4]
Depth 
 • maximum37 m (121 ft) (Lokoja)[4]
Discharge 
 • locationNiger Delta[5][6]
 • average(Period: 2010–2018)270.5 km3/a (8,570 m3/s)[7]

(Period: 1971–2000)7,922.3 m3/s (279,770 cu ft/s)[8]

(6,925 m3/s (244,600 cu ft/s)[6] to 250 km3/a (1.9 cu mi/Ms)[2])
 • minimum1,200 m3/s (42,000 cu ft/s)
 • maximum35,000 m3/s (1,200,000 cu ft/s)
Discharge 
 • locationOnitsha
 • average(Period: 1971–2000)6,470.8 m3/s (228,510 cu ft/s)[8]
Discharge 
 • locationLokoja
 • average(Period: 2000/06/01–2023/05/31)6,696 m3/s (236,500 cu ft/s)[9] (Period: 1971–2000)5,754.7 m3/s (203,230 cu ft/s)[8]
 • minimum(Period: 2000/06/01–2023/05/31)1,864 m3/s (65,800 cu ft/s)[9] 500 m3/s (18,000 cu ft/s)[10]
 • maximum(Period: 2000/06/01–2023/05/31)21,800 m3/s (770,000 cu ft/s)[9] 27,600 m3/s (970,000 cu ft/s)[10] (04/10/2022: 33,136 m3/s (1,170,200 cu ft/s)[9]
Discharge 
 • locationNiamey
 • average(Period: 2000/06/01–2023/05/31)964 m3/s (34,000 cu ft/s)[9] (Period: 1971–2000)737.7 m3/s (26,050 cu ft/s)[8]
 • minimum(Period: 2000/06/01–2023/05/31)60 m3/s (2,100 cu ft/s)[9]
 • maximum(Period: 2000/06/01–2023/05/31)1,994 m3/s (70,400 cu ft/s)[9]
Discharge 
 • locationBamako
 • average(Period: 1971–2000)1,091.7 m3/s (38,550 cu ft/s)[8]
Basin features
ProgressionGulf of Guinea
River systemNiger River
Tributaries 
 • leftTinkisso, Sokoto, Kaduna, Gurara, Benue, Anambra
 • rightNiandan, Milo, Sankarani, Bani, Gorouol, Sirba, Mékrou, Alibori, Sota, Oli, Orashi, Warri

The Niger River (/ˈnər/ NY-jər; French: (le) fleuve Niger [(lə) flœv niʒɛʁ]) is the main river of West Africa, extending about 4,180 kilometres (2,600 miles). Its drainage basin is 2,117,700 km2 (817,600 sq mi) in area.[11] Its source is in the Guinea Highlands in south-eastern Guinea near the Sierra Leone border.[12][13] It runs in a crescent shape through Mali, Niger, on the border with Benin and then through Nigeria, discharging through a massive delta, known as the Niger Delta,[14] into the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean. The Niger is the third-longest river in Africa, exceeded by the Nile and the Congo River. Its main tributary is the Benue River.

  1. ^ "niger | Origin and meaning of the name niger by Online Etymology Dictionary". www.etymonline.com. Archived from the original on 2022-10-14. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  2. ^ a b Inger, Andersen; Ousmane, Dione; Martha, Jarosewich-Holder; Jean-Claude, Olivry; Katherin, George Golitzen (2005). The Niger River Basin - A Vision for Sustainable Management. World Bank. ISBN 9780821362037. Archived from the original on 2023-01-04. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference FAO was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Muhedeen, Lawal; Kamaldeen Olakunle, Omosanya (2022). "35-years decadal changes in platform morphology of the Niger and Benue confluence, West Africa". ESS Open Archive. doi:10.1002/essoar.10512089.1.
  5. ^ "WWD Continents". www.geol.lsu.edu. Archived from the original on 8 October 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  6. ^ a b Prabhu TL (2021). "Agricultural Engineering: An Introduction To Agricultural Engineering". NestFame Creations Pvt. Ltd. Archived from the original on 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Water Accounting in the Niger River Basin was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b c d e "Niger". Archived from the original on 2024-04-01. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g "Niger-Hycos". 2022. Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
  10. ^ a b Castano, Ing. Antonio. "A Study On The Hydrological Series Of The Niger River At Koulikoro, Niamey And Lokoja Stations". Archived from the original (PDF) on January 1, 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  11. ^ Gleick, Peter H. (2000), The World's Water, 2000-2001: The Biennial Report on Freshwater, Island Press, p. 33, ISBN 978-1-55963-792-3 – via Internet Archive
  12. ^ "Niger River". geography.name. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  13. ^ Thompson, Samuel (2005). "Niger River". In McColl, R. W. (ed.). Encyclopedia of World Geography. Facts On File, Inc. p. 665. ISBN 9780816072293.
  14. ^ "Rivers of the World: The Niger River". Radio Netherlands Archives. 2002-12-04. Archived from the original on 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2021-11-24.