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Niger (in French, République du Niger), officially Republic of Niger, landlocked republic, western Africa, bordered on the north by Algeria and Libya, on the east by Chad, on the south by Nigeria and Benin, and on the west by Burkina Faso and Mali. A former French colony, Niger achieved full independence on August 3, 1960. It has a total area of 1,267,000 sq km (489,200 sq mi). The capital of Niger is Niamey.
Niger is divided into three zones: the northern, the central, and the southern. The northern zone, covering more than half of the total area of the republic, lies within the Sahara. It is a highland region of plateaux and mountains and, except in scattered oases, has little vegetation. In this zone is Mount Bagzane (1,900 m/6,234 ft), the highest point in the country. The central zone, known as the Sahel, is semi-arid and lightly wooded. The southern zone is a fertile, forested area that benefits from adequate rainfall and, in the south-west, from the periodic overflow of the River Niger, virtually the only river in the country. On the south-east, the nation borders on one of the largest lakes of the continent, the shallow Lake Chad. Environmental problems persist due to desertification from overgrazing, recurring droughts, and deforestation.
The climate of Niger is hot and, in most areas, dry. Rainfall, negligible in the north, increases to 560 mm (22 in) a year in the south, where a rainy season lasts from June to October. The average annual temperature at Niamey is 29.4° C (85° F).
Niger has diverse mineral resources, many of which remain to be exploited. Large deposits of high-grade uranium ore are mined in the north at Arlit and Akouta. Phosphates are mined in the Niger valley, and coal and tin ore deposits are also exploited. Salt is mined on a large scale. Other minerals include iron ore and copper. Diamonds and tungsten have also been found.
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