November 5th, 2012 Category: Deserts, Rivers

Mali – November 4th, 2012

The bright green area spreading across the otherwise arid, yellow and tan landscape, is the Inner Niger Delta, also known as the Macina. It is a large area of lakes and floodplains in the semi-arid Sahel area of central Mali, just south of the Sahara desert. The delta consists of the middle course of the Niger River, between the bifurcated Niger and its tributary, the Bani, which from here run north towards the desert. Due to its proximity to the widening Sahel, there have been concerns that the Macina may be getting less rain every year.

Tags: Bani River Inner Niger Delta Macina Mali Niger River Sahara Desert Sahel | Comments |

November 14th, 2010 Category: Rivers

Mali - October 19th, 2010

The Niger Inland Delta (also known as the Inner Niger and Macina Inland Delta) is a green area of wetlands in central Mali. The delta consists of the middle course of the Niger River (the longest river in West Africa), between the bifurcated Niger and its tributary, the Bani, which from here run north towards the desert.

Most of the year the area has a hot and dry climate, with hot winds from the nearby Sahara raising the temperature up to 40° C. During the wet season, which lasts from July to September but lasts longer the further south one goes, the swamp floods into a lake and naturally irrigates the land.

When the dry season comes, the Niger Inland Delta turns into a network of lakes and channels. Due to its proximity to the widening Sahel, there have been concerns that the delta may be getting less rain every year.

Tags: Bani River Mali Niger Inland Delta Niger River | Comments |

January 27th, 2010 Category: Rivers

Mali - January 6th, 2010

The Niger Inland Delta (also known as the Inner Niger and Macina Inland Delta) is a large area of lakes and floodplains in the Sahel area of central Mali, just south of the Sahara desert, forming a green oasis in its semi-arid surroundings. The delta consists of the middle course of the Niger River, between the bifurcated Niger and its tributary, the Bani, which from here run north towards the desert.

As the Niger Inland Delta lies in the Sahelian zone, it has an ecosystem that is largely dependent on the amount of flooding it receives. Due to its proximity to the widening Sahel, there have been concerns that it may be getting less rain every year. This strongly affects land use in and around the inland delta, as human impact is driven by agriculture, both irrigated and rainfed, grazing and browsing of herds and flocks and the collection of wood for fuel, all dependent on the availability of water.

Tags: Africa Bani River Inner Niger Delta Macina Inland Delta Mali Niger Inland Delta Niger River Sahara Desert Sahel | Comments |