36 Facts About Niger

Niger, officially the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River.

The river Niger is 4,180 kilometers in length (2597 miles).

With a length of 4,180 kilometres, it is Africa's third-longest river, trailing only the Nile and the Congo, also known as the Zaire.

The Niger, unlike the Nile, is clear throughout its entire length. This is due to the absence of silt.

The river is responsible for the names of Nigeria and Niger.

The river floods every year, with the flooding season lasting from September to May.

The Guinea highlands in Southeastern Guinea are the river's source.

The Benue River is the river's main tributary.

This river's flow has been described as unusual. It begins 150 miles away from the Atlantic Ocean, but instead of flowing straight to the ocean, it curves inward, passing through Mali, Niger, Benin, and Nigeria before emptying into the Gulf of Guinea via the Niger Delta/Oil Rivers.

Mungo Park, a Scottish explorer, was the first known Westerner to travel the Niger River. In the year 1796, he did so.

The river contains thirty-six freshwater fish families and nearly 250 fish species, twenty of which are unique to the world.

French is the official language. This is a colonial language that serves as an administrative language.

The country has eight languages that are also classified as national languages; these are mostly ethnic languages associated with the language.

Islam is the most widely practised religion in Niger, with approximately 80% of the population identifying as Muslims.

Christians make up about 20% of the population, with indigenous religions being practised by the vast majority.

Millet is Niger's main staple food.

Traditional sports such as horse racing, camel racing, and wrestling continue to exist and play an important role in people's socialisation.

Since 1958, December 18 has been designated as National Day/Republic Day. It also commemorates the establishment of the republic and the Presidency.

There are several cities, towns, and villages that have survived due to their architecture; some, like those on the Djado plateau, are largely uninhabited, while others, like Agadez and Zinder, are still inhabited.

Niger is a landlocked country with over 80% arid land.

Niger's total land area is only 2.8% cultivated.

The Union of Worker's Syndicate of Niger is the country's sole trade union federation. The Union's leader is appointed by the government, and the majority of its members are state employees.

Niger's main agricultural export is peanuts; cotton is the second largest agricultural export.

Forest cover covers only 1% of Niger's total surface area.

Niger's main mineral export is uranium. The country is ranked fifth in the world for Uranium production.

Gold, iron ore, sulphates, and a plethora of other untapped minerals are among the minerals abundant in Niger.

Mount Idoukalan - Taghes in the Air Mountains is the highest point in the country.

Niger has a subtropical climate, which means it is hot and dry.

Niger is the largest country in West Africa, with a land area of 1,267,000 km2.

Niger is one of the world's poorest countries, ranking 188th in the 2014 UN Human Development Index.

Niger has a rich cultural history as the home of some of Africa's most illustrious empires and kingdoms.

Since its inception as a state in 1958, Niger has had seven republics and four military regimes.

The country has one of the largest protected reserves in the world, covering 7.7 million hectares of land. This area is home to cheetah, oryx, and various gazelles.

Dinosaur remains have also been discovered in the Sahara desert.

Niger is known as the "Frying Pan of the World" because it is one of the world's hottest countries.

The country is divided into seven regions, with the capital, Niamey, serving as the sole Principal District.