Termit Massif
Termit Massif | |
---|---|
ISS | |
Highest point | |
Elevation | 732 m (2,402 ft) |
Coordinates | 16°03′N 11°21′E / 16.050°N 11.350°E |
Dimensions | |
Length | 180 km (110 mi) |
Width | 40 km (25 mi) |
Area | 3,500 km2 (1,400 sq mi) |
Geography | |
Country | Niger |
Geology | |
Type of rock | Sandstone |
The Termit Massif (Termit Mountains or simply the Termit) is a mountainous region in south-eastern Niger. Just to the south of the dunes of Ténéré desert and the Erg of Bilma, the northern areas of the Termit, called the Gossololom, consist of black volcanic peaks rising from the surrounding seas of sand.[1] The southern Termit is a roughly east–west ridge of heavily eroded black sandstone. Its foothills to the southwest are the Koutous hills.
Location
The Termit Massif is located in the Tesker commune in the north-east of the Zinder region. Geographically, the Termite Massif is located in the western part of the Chad Basin. This is where the Sahel desert meets the Sahara. To the north and north-east lie the great sandy deserts of the Ténéré and to the east, behind the Tin-Toumma desert, the Grand Erg du Bilma. South of the mountains is the Dilia de Lagané valley, which runs in a straight line for 200 kilometres. The southern part of the range is characterised by rugged black sandstone formations. In the Gossolorom landscape to the north, isolated rocky islands of volcanic origin rise from the ochre-coloured sandy desert.[2] The Termit massif receives less than 100 millimetres of rainfall per year. The dry season lasts from November to May, while the rainy season of the West African monsoon lasts from June to September.
In 1989, the
Geography
Topography
The Termit massif is a rocky outcrop running north–south at an altitude of 350-700m. It is mainly composed of black sandstone that is partially silted up, with a few islands of volcanic origin in its northern part, in the Gossololom region.
It is bounded by:
- to the north and north-west: the Ténéré desert;
- to the east: the Tin-Toumma desert;
- to the south and south-west: the transition zones between desert and Sahelian savannah.
Termit occupies the northern part of the Gouré department, in the Zinder region.
Climate
The dry season lasts from November to May and the rainy season from June to September, bringing less than 100 mm of rainfall a year.
Fauna and flora
Human settlement
The small population of the Termit is mostly
Ecological protection
Termit is home to the Termit Massif Reserve, a 700,000 hectare faunal reserve established in 1962 to protect endangered antelope and Addax populations.[7]
In 2006, the government of Niger applied to
Gallery
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Camels drinking in one of the parts of the Termit massif in 2001
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Sand dunes and rocky islands in the Termit massif, 2001
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Satellite image of Termit massif visible from space
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Termit massif from space
References
- ^ ISBN 978-1-84162-152-4.: 224–236
- ^ a b Jolijn Geels: Niger. Bradt, Chalfont St Peter 2006, ISBN 1-84162-152-8, S. 224–226.
- ^ "Dakar Retrospective 1979–2007" (PDF). Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ a b c mondial, UNESCO Centre du patrimoine. "Massif de Termit". UNESCO Centre du patrimoine mondial (in French). Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ "Rapport d'activité 2021" (PDF) (in French). Association Noé. 2022. pp. 36–37. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ISBN 2-7469-1640-1
- ^ World Database on Protected Areas / UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), 2008.
- ^ Massif de Termit. Base de données des listes indicatives, 26 May 2006.
Further reading
- Decalo, Samuel (1997). Historical Dictionary of the Niger (3rd ed.). Boston & Folkestone: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-3136-8.