The source is the mouth of the direction of the flow of the Niger River. Rivers of nigeria. Real knowledge is accumulating about the interior of Africa

The Niger River is the largest in West Africa and the third longest on the entire continent, after the Nile and. And many thousands of years ago, two rivers flowed along its current course. From its source in the Guinean Highlands, one of them flowed into an ancient closed lake, while the second flowed to the east of this place and was not connected with the first. But time dried up the lake, and these two rivers gradually changed the course, merging, they gave birth to Niger.
For a long time, the serpentine current of the Niger remained the main obstacle for researchers. There was even an assumption that the other African rivers Senegal and Gambia are nothing more than the branches of the Niger, although in fact they flow to the north.
There have been many attempts to uncover the mystery of the river. Since the so-called African Association was founded in 1788, the purpose of which was a detailed study of African lands, including the Niger current: it was necessary to learn everything about the promising trade routes of Africa, and Niger goes to the Atlantic Ocean.
Less than ten years later, the river found its hero. In 1796 the Scottish traveler Mungo Park (1771-1806) reached its waters. Having explored the sources of the rivers of Senegal and Gambia, he reached Niger and during his voyage discovered that Niger had nothing to do with Senegal and Gambia. But Park could not thoroughly study Niger: he fell ill with tropical fever, was captured, fled, but after a relapse of a debilitating illness, he interrupted his journey along the river, returning on foot to the mouth of the Gambia, and with great difficulty in June 1797 reached the English trading settlement of Pisania ... But the collected materials reported. They formed the basis of the book, published in 1799, which brought Mungo Park credibility in scientific circles and fame among inquisitive compatriots.
This inspired the Scotsman to travel to Niger in 1805. The expedition started from the Niger Delta, was well prepared and armed. However, due to illness, heat and endless clashes with local tribes, Mungo Park lost most of his team (out of forty people, only eleven made it to the Malian territories). In the same 1805, he drowned in the waters of the Niger when he tried to hide from the arrows of local residents in the water. This became known only in 1808, when the diaries and letters of the brave traveler, which he sent ahead of time with his people, finally reached the addressee: the envoys of the Park themselves barely survived. Although Europe already knew about the obstinate nature of Niger, there are many extreme lovers who want to make a trip along this river (and still are) quite a few. The sad fate of the Park warned real researchers ... But in 1946 a significant geographical event nevertheless took place: for the first time a man managed to overcome absolutely all obstacles on the way from the source of the Niger to its mouth. It was a French expedition - documentary filmmaker and African connoisseur Jean Rush and his companions Pierre Ponty and Jean Soy.
Thanks to the film materials they brought from this trip, people were able to see the beauty of the hitherto mysterious river, to feel the diversity and uniqueness of its world, bewitchingly attractive, despite all the potential dangers.

Taking its origin under the name of Joliba on the Leon-Liberian Uplands, Niger rushes westward to the Gulf of Guinea of ​​the Atlantic Ocean, absorbing a lot of large and small tributaries along the way and gradually accelerating its course. At the confluence with its largest tributary, the Benue River, the Niger gains its greatest strength. Here its width reaches three kilometers, and the depth in some areas is kept at the level of twenty meters. Niger is navigable from Kurusa to Bamako, from Sotuba Falls to Ansongo and from Niamey to the mouth. The Niger Delta begins 180 km from the ocean near the city of Aba.
A real oasis is formed along the banks of the Niger in the area of ​​its inner Masina delta, in the very place where the waters of a lake that dried up over time once splashed. Now this region belongs to the state of Mali (it gained independence in 1960). About half a million people live here. Most of the local settlements belong to the Dogon. Near the Bandiagara ledge, you can find their small villages, consisting of adobe houses, merging with the surrounding rocky landscape, and along the Nigerian shores their fields and melons stretch. Niger also sheltered the Fulbe tribes on its shores, adhering to the ancient traditions of a nomadic lifestyle and animal husbandry. Living conditions here are not easy, even taking into account the proximity of the river: the wind brings hot dry air from the Sahara Desert, and temperatures throughout the year can jump up to + 40 ° C. From here, the river rushes further, deviating to the east and approaching the southern outskirts of the Sahara. Here river water is invaluable and almost the only source of life, including for the Malian city of Timbuktu, which stands in the bend (inner delta) of Niger. Until the beginning of the XX century. across the Niger, Timbuktu could be reached only when the water level in the river rose after the summer monsoon rains. The first European to reach this city, known only from the descriptions of the city, was a British officer, Major Alexander Leng, and this happened in 1825.
There are others on the shores of the Niger, more big cities(the population of Timbuktu is only slightly more than 50 thousand people). Downstream of the inner delta is the Malian capital Bamako, with a population of nearly two million, the fastest growing city in Africa. The difficult natural conditions of West Africa leave their mark on the appearance of this capital city. At first glance, it might seem that Bamako is not that great. The houses here are low-rise, and the streets, with a fairly high population density, are not so busy (green minibuses of the local route taxi there are sometimes many more than private cars).
The capital, Niamey, is also located on the banks of the great African river. Founded in the 18th century, it really flourished only towards the end of the 19th century, during the French colonization. Living in the bustle during the day, sparkling brightly in the evening lights, this city is one of the largest African centers of trade, retail and wholesale. And then one can observe, it seems, an ineradicable African paradox: next to the circulation of goods and money - poverty and begging.

general information

River in West Africa.
The third river in length and basin area in Africa (after the Nile and Congo).
Main tributaries: Benue, Milo, Bani, Sokoto, Kaduna.
Countries through which Niger flows: Guinea, Mali, Niger, Benin, Nigeria.
The most important cities in the basin: Timbuktu, Bamako (Mali), Niamey (Niger), Lokoja, Onicha (Nigeria).
The most important port: Port Harcourt (Nigeria, located on the Bonnie River in the Niger Delta).

Numbers

Length: 4180 km.
Pool area: 2,117,700 km 2.
Delta area: 70,000 km 2.
Water consumption (at the mouth): 8630 m 3 / s.
Annual flow: 378 km 3.

Economy

The most important route of communication between the countries of West Africa.
Industry: hydropower (Kainji hydroelectric complex in Nigeria, with a reservoir of 600 km 2), oil production (in the Niger Delta).
Agriculture: growing oranges, bananas, legumes, corn, millet, rice, sugarcane, peanuts, sorghum, cassava, cotton; cattle breeding.
Fishing: carp, perch, barbel, captain fish and other species.
Trade is developed in coastal cities.

Climate and weather

Tropical desert in the north of the region, subequatorial in the south.
Average monthly temperatures throughout the year: from +20 to + 34ºС.
Sharp daily temperature drops are characteristic: in the morning the air temperature can be around + 10 ° C, and during the day it can rise to + 40 ° C.
Average annual rainfall: in the north of the region - less than 100 mm, in the south - up to 800 mm.

sights

■ Bamako (Mali): National Museum of Mali - dedicated to the history of the country since ancient times; Bamako Cathedral Mosque is one of the tallest buildings in Bamako; BCEAO Tower - the tallest bank building in West Africa; Amadou Cultural Palace - One of the main centers for cultural events;
■ Niamey (Niger): National Museum of Niger; Nigerian Zoo; city ​​market - the largest shopping center in the Republic of Niger; Great Mosque of Niemey;
■ Kainji Lake National Park;
■ Upper Niger National Park;
■ Western National Park of Niger.

Curious facts

■ To say that the Niger Basin is a densely populated area is to say nothing. In the delta area of ​​this African river alone, the population is about thirty one million people.
■ The Republic of Niger is one of the largest oil suppliers among African countries. About two million barrels of black gold are mined in the Niger Delta every day. True, this figure is far from the limit: before, production was three million barrels per day, but in recent years the country's oil industry has lost ground.
■ Steamships are only occasionally encountered in Niger: mostly small sailing vessels are in use here.
■ The documentary filmmaker and ethnographer Jean Rush (1917-2004), who explored Niger in 1946, called this river a living liana, twisted around West Africa, noting the variability of its water flow.
■ The most delicious fish found in the waters of Niger is the captain fish.
■ The city of Mopti in Mali, located at the confluence of the Bani River with the Niger, is called the "Venice of Africa". But not always, but in winter, when after the monsoon rains, Niger overflows and Mopti is surrounded by water on all sides.

The source of the river is located on the slopes of the Leono-Liberian Uplands in southeastern Guinea. The river flows through the territory of Mali, Niger, along the border with Benin, and then through the territory of Nigeria. It flows into the Gulf of Guinea of ​​the Atlantic Ocean, forming a delta in the confluence area. The largest tributary of the Niger is the Benue River.

Etymology

The exact origin of the name of the river is unknown and there has been a debate among researchers for a long time on this score.

It is popularly believed that the name of the river originated from the Tuareg nehier-ren- "river, flowing water". According to one of the hypotheses, the name of the river comes from the words “Yegerev Negerev”, which in Tamashek (one of the Tuareg languages) means “ great river"Or" river of rivers ". This was the name of Niger and some other peoples who lived on its shores.

There is also a hypothesis according to which the derivative of the name of the river is the Latin word niger, that is, "black". This hypothesis assumes that historically the words "Niger" and "Negro" are the same root, since the latter also comes from the word "black".

Aborigines living near the banks, in some parts of the stream, call the river differently: Djoliba (in Mandingo language - “ big river”), Mayo, Eghirreu, Izo, Quorra (Quarra, Kovara), Baki-n-ruu, etc., but the absolute majority of these names in translation mean“ river ”.

Hydrography

The Niger is a relatively "clean" river, compared to the Nile, the turbidity of its water is about ten times less. This is due to the fact that the upper reaches of the Niger are rocky and do not carry a lot of silt. Like the Nile, the Niger spills every year. This starts in September, the spill peaks in November, and ends by May.

An unusual feature of the river is the so-called inner delta of the Niger, formed in the place of a strong decrease in the longitudinal channel slope. The terrain is an area of ​​multi-channel channel, marches and lakes the size of Belgium. It is 425 km long with an average width of 87 km. Seasonal floods make the inland delta extremely favorable for fishing and agriculture.

Niger loses about two-thirds of its flow in the inner delta between Segu and Timbuktu due to evaporation and filtration. Even the waters of the Bani River flowing into the delta near the town of Mopti are not enough to compensate for these losses. Average losses are estimated at 31 km 3 / year (their size varies greatly from year to year). Many tributaries flow into the Niger after the inner delta, but evaporation losses are still very high. The volume of water entering Nigeria in the Yola region was estimated at 25 km 3 / year before the 1980s and 13.5 km 3 / year during the eighties. The most important tributary of the Niger is the Benue, which merges with it in the Lokoji region. The volume of inflows to Nigeria is six times greater than the volume of Niger itself when it enters the country. By the Niger delta, the discharge increases to 177 km 3 / year (data before the 1980s, during the eighties - 147.3 km 3 / year.

Hydrological regime

Niger feeds on the waters of the summer monsoon rains. In the upper reaches, the flood begins in June and at Bamako reaches its maximum in September - October. In the lower reaches, the rise in water begins in June from local rains, in September it reaches its maximum. The average annual discharge of water in the Niger at the mouth is 8630 m³ / s, the annual flow is 378 km³, during floods can reach 30-35 thousand m³ / s.

In 2005, the Norwegian traveler Helge Kjelland embarked on another expedition along the entire length of the Niger, starting his journey to Guinea-Bissau in 2005. He also made a documentary about his journey, which he called "Nightmare Journey" ( "The Cruellest Journey") .

Bend in the river

Niger has one of the most unusual shapes channel in plan among large rivers. Boomerang-like, this trend has baffled European geographers for nearly two millennia. The source of the Niger is located just 240 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean, but the river begins its journey in the opposite direction to the Sahara, after which it turns sharply to the right near the ancient city of Timbuktu and flows southeast to the Gulf of Guinea. The ancient Romans thought that the river near Timbuktu was part of the Nile, as, for example, Pliny believed. The same point of view was adhered to by and. The very first European explorers believed that the upper Niger flows westward and joins the Senegal River.

A similar very unusual direction arose, probably due to the unification of two rivers into one in ancient times. Upper Niger, which began west of Timbuktu, ended at about the bend of the present-day river, flowing into a now defunct lake, while the lower Niger began from the hills near that lake and flowed south into the Gulf of Guinea. After the development of the Sahara in 4000-1000 years. BC e., two rivers changed their directions and merged into one as a result of interception (eng. Stream capture ).

Economic use

The most fertile lands are in the inner delta and estuary delta of the river. The river brings 67 million tons of silt per year.

Many dams and waterworks have been built on the river. Egrette and Sansanding dams raise water for irrigation canals. The largest hydroelectric complex in the Niger, Kainji, was built in the 1960s. The capacity of the hydroelectric power plant is 960 MW, the area of ​​the reservoir is about 600 km².

Navigation on the river is developed only in some areas, especially from the city of Niamey to the confluence with the ocean. The river is inhabited by a large number of fish (perch, carp, etc.), therefore fishing is developed among the local residents.

River transport

In September 2009, the Nigerian government allocated 36 billion naira for dredging in Niger from Baro. Baro (Nigeria) ) to Warri in order to clean the bottom from silt. The dredging was intended to facilitate the transport of goods to settlements far from the Atlantic Ocean. Such work was supposed to be carried out several decades ago, but they were postponed. Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua noted that the project will provide year-round navigation in Niger and expressed the hope that by 2020 Nigeria will become one of the twenty most industrialized countries in the world. Alhayi Ibrahim Bio, Minister of Transport of Nigeria, said the ministry will do everything it can to complete the project within the allotted time frame. Fears were raised that such works could negatively affect villages located in coastal zones. At the end of March 2010, the Niger dredging project was 50% complete.

Financing

Most of the investments in the development of Niger come from aid funds. For example, the construction of the Kandaji Dam is financed by the Islamic Development Bank, the African Development Bank, and the Development Fund of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. The World Bank confirmed a low interest loan in July 2007 for financial projects in the Niger Basin for a twelve year period. In addition to the restoration of dams in Niger, the loan also aims to restore ecosystems and build economic capacity.

Cities

downstream

• Guinea 22x20px Guinea
• Mali Mali
• Niger Niger
• Nigeria Nigeria

Protected areas

• Niger Basin Management
• Upper Niger National Park
• Western national park
• Kainji National Park

see also

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Notes (edit)

1. F.L. Ageenko.... - M: ENAS, 2001.
2. Gleick, Peter H. (2000), The World's Water, 2000-2001: The Biennial Report on Freshwater, Island Press, p. 33, ISBN 1-55963-792-7; online at
3. Niger (river in Africa) / Muranov A.P. // Great Soviet encyclopedia: [in 30 volumes] / ch. ed. A.M. Prokhorov... - 3rd ed. - M. : Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969-1978.
4. V.K.Gubarev.... retravel.ru. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
5. Friedrich Hahn. Africa. - 2nd ed. - St. Petersburg: Printing house of the partnership "Education", 1903. - S. 393-395. - 772 p. - ( World geography under the general ed. prof. Sivers.).
6. Niger // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary
7. , P. 191
8. , pp. 191-192
9. FAO:, 1997
10. Baugh, Brenda, , Documentary Education Resources , ... Retrieved January 27, 2010.
12. New encyclopedia of Africa, Volume 4. John Middleton, Joseph Calder Miller, p.36
13. Niger // Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Yekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of Acad. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006.
14. ... BBC.10 September 2009. Retrieved September 11, 2009.
15. Wole Ayodele. (unavailable link -)... This Day Online.09.09.2009. Retrieved September 11, 2009.
16. (unavailable link -)... Punch on the web.25 March 2010. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
17. Voice of America:, July 4, 2007
18. World Bank:, accessed on January 9, 2010

Literature

• Niger // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.
• Dmitrevsky Yu.D. Inland waters Africa and their use / Otv. ed. Dr. Geogr. M.S. Rozin. - L.: Gidrometeoizdat, 1967 .-- 384 p. - 800 copies
• Zotova Yu.N., Kubbel L.E. Looking for Niger. - M .: Science. Main edition of oriental literature, 1972 .-- 242 p. - (Travel to the countries of the East). - 15,000 copies.

• River studies and recommendations on improvement of Niger and Benue. - Amsterdam: North-Holland Pub. Co., 1959.
• Reader, John (2001), Africa, Washington, D.C .: National Geographic Society, ISBN 0-620-25506-4
• Thomson, J. Oliver (1948), History of ancient geography, Biblo & Tannen Publishers, ISBN 0-8196-0143-8
• Welcomme, R.L. (1986), "The Niger River System", in Davies, Bryan Robert & Walker, Keith F., The Ecology of River Systems, Springer, pp. 9-60, ISBN 90-6193-540-7

Niger
English Niger
250px Bridge over the Niger in Bamako
Characteristic
Length
[]	2,117,700 km²
Water consumption	8630 m³ / s (mouth)
Source
- Location
- Height
- Coordinates
Estuary
- Location
- Height
- Coordinates	 /  / 5.316667; 6.416667(Niger, mouth)Coordinates:
River slope
Water system
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Excerpt from Niger (river)

He pushed me further. And then I suddenly realized that it seemed to me so strange ... The room did not end! .. It looked small, but it continued to "lengthen" as we moved along it! .. It was incredible! I glanced at Sever again, but he only nodded, as if saying: "Do not be surprised at anything, everything is fine." And I ceased to be surprised ... A person "stepped out" right from the wall of the room ... Startled with surprise, I immediately tried to gather myself not to show surprise, because for everyone else living here, it was apparently completely habitual. The man came right up to us and said in a low, sonorous voice:
- Be sane, Isidora! I am the Magus Istin. I know it's hard for you ... But you yourself chose the path. Come with me - I'll show you what you've lost.
We moved on. I followed a wondrous person from whom incredible strength emanated, and sadly thought how easy and simple everything would be if he wanted to help! But, unfortunately, he didn't want to either ... I walked deeply in thought, completely oblivious to how I found myself in an amazing space, completely filled with narrow shelves, on which an incredible number of unusual gold plates and very old "bundles", similar to old manuscripts kept in my father's house, with the only difference that those kept here were made on some subtle unknown material, which I had never seen anywhere before. Plates and scrolls were different - small and very large, short and long, as long as a person's height. And in this strange room there were a great many ...
- This is KNOWLEDGE, Isidora. Rather, a very small part of it. You can absorb it if you wish. It will not hurt, and may even help you in your search. Try it honey ...
Istya smiled affectionately, and it suddenly seemed to me that I had always known him. A wonderful warmth and peace emanated from him, which I missed so much all these terrible days, fighting with Karaffa. He apparently felt all this perfectly, as he looked at me with deep sadness, as if he knew what an evil fate awaits me outside the walls of Meteora. And he mourned me in advance .... I went up to one of the endless shelves, to the top "crammed" with semicircular gold plates, to see what Istan had suggested ... But before I could even bring my hand closer, a storm of stunning people literally fell on me, wondrous visions !!! Stunning pictures, unlike anything ever seen, swept through my exhausted brain, replacing each other with incredible speed ... Some of them for some reason remained, and some disappeared, immediately bringing new ones with me. also hardly had time to consider. What was that ?! .. The life of some long-dead people? Our Great Ancestors? Visions changed, sweeping by at crazy speed. The stream did not end, taking me to some amazing countries and worlds, not allowing me to wake up. Suddenly one of them flashed brighter than the others, and a stunning city opened up to me ... it was airy and transparent, as if created from the White Light.
- What is it??? - Afraid to frighten off, I whispered softly. - Could this be real? ..
“This is the Holy City, honey. The city of our Gods. He has been gone for a very long time ... - said Istain quietly. - It is from there that we all once came ... Only on Earth no one remembers him - then suddenly, realizing himself, he added: - Careful, dear, it will be hard for you. Look no more.
But I wanted more! .. Some kind of scorching thirst burned my brain, begging not to stop! The unfamiliar world beckoned and bewitched with its primordiality! .. I wanted to go into it headlong and, plunging deeper and deeper, scoop it up endlessly, without missing a single moment, without losing a single precious minute ... which, as I understood, from I was left here very, very little ... Each new plate opened before me in thousands of stunning images, which were surprisingly bright and now for some reason already understandable, as if I had suddenly found a magic key to them long lost by someone. Time flew by, but I did not notice it ... I wanted more and more. And it was very scary that right now someone would definitely stop, and it would be time to leave this wonderful storehouse of someone's incredible memory, which I will never again be able to comprehend. It was very sad and painful, but, unfortunately, I had no way back. I chose my life myself and was not going to renounce it. Even if it was incredibly difficult ...
- Well, that's all, honey. I can't show you anymore. You are an “apostate” who did not want to know ... And the way here is closed for you. But I am sincerely sorry, Isidora ... You have a great Gift! You could easily LEAD it all ... If you wanted to. It was not so easy for everyone ... Your nature longs for it. But you chose a different path, so you must leave now. My thoughts will be with you, child of the Light. Go with VERA, let her help you. Goodbye, Isidora ...
The room disappeared ... We found ourselves in some other stone room, also filled with many scrolls, but they already looked different, perhaps not as ancient as the previous ones. I suddenly felt very sad ... Painfully in my soul, I wanted to comprehend these other people's "secrets", to see the wealth hidden in them, but I left ... never to return here.
- Think, Isidora! - as if sensing my doubt, Sever said quietly. - You haven't left yet, stay.
I just shook my head ...
Suddenly my attention was attracted by a familiar, but still incomprehensible phenomenon - as we advanced, the room here lengthened as we passed on. But if in the previous hall I did not see a soul, then here, as soon as I looked around, I saw a lot of people - young and old, men and women. There were even children here! .. They all studied something very carefully, completely withdrawing into themselves, and detachedly comprehending some "wise truths" ... Not paying any attention to those who entered.
- Who are all these people, Sever? Do they live here? I asked in a whisper.
- These are the Witches and the Vedunas, Isidora. Once upon a time your father was one of them ... We train them.
My heart ached ... I wanted to howl like a wolf voice, feeling sorry for myself and my short lost life! KNOWLEDGE! Burning tears were about to pour down like a river, but I tried my last bit to hold them back somehow. It was impossible to do this in any way, since tears were another “forbidden luxury” to which I had no right if I imagined myself to be a real Warrior. The warriors did not cry. They fought and won, and if they died, then certainly not with tears in their eyes ... Apparently, I was just very tired. From loneliness and pain ... From constant fear for relatives ... From the endless struggle, in which she had not the slightest hope of emerging victorious. I really needed a sip fresh air, and this air for me was my daughter, Anna. But for some reason, she was nowhere to be seen, although I knew that Anna was here, together with them, on this wonderful and strange, “closed” land.
Sever stood next to me at the edge of the gorge, and deep sadness lurked in his gray eyes. I wanted to ask him - will I ever see him? But there was not enough strength. I didn't want to say goodbye. I didn't want to leave. Life here was so wise and calm, and everything seemed so simple and good! .. But there, in my cruel and imperfect world, good people were dying, and it was time to return to try to save at least someone ... This is real was my world, no matter how terrible it was. And my father who remained there may have suffered severely, unable to escape from the clutches of Karaffa, whom I ironically decided, whatever it cost me, to destroy, even if for this I have to give my short and so dear to me, life ...
- Can I see Anna? - with hope in my soul, I asked Sever.
- Forgive me, Isidora, Anna undergoes "cleansing" from worldly vanity ... Before she enters the same room where you were just now. She will not be able to come to you now ...
- But why didn't I need to "cleanse" anything? - I was surprised. - Anna is still a child, she doesn't have too much mundane "dirt", does she?
- She has to absorb too much into herself, to comprehend the whole infinity ... And you will never return there. You do not need to forget anything "old", Isidora ... I am very sorry.
- So, I will never see my daughter again? .. - I asked in a whisper.
- You will see. I will help you. And now, do you want to say goodbye to the Magi, Isidora? This is your only opportunity, don't miss it.
Well, of course, I wanted to see them, the Masters of all this Wise World! My father told me so much about them, and I myself dreamed for so long! Only I could not imagine then how sad our meeting would be for me ...
Sever raised his palms and the rock, shimmering, disappeared. We found ourselves in a very high, round hall, which at the same time seemed to be a forest, a meadow, a fairy-tale castle, or even just "nothing" ... No matter how hard I tried, I could not see its walls, nor what was happening around. The air shimmered and shimmered with thousands of brilliant "drops" similar to human tears ... Overcoming the excitement, I breathed in ... The "rainy" air was surprisingly fresh, clean and light! From him, spreading with life-giving power, the thinnest living threads of "golden" warmth ran all over the body. The feeling was wonderful! ..
- Come in, Isidora, the Fathers are waiting for you, - whispered Sever.
I stepped further - the quivering air "parted" ... Right in front of me stood the Magi ...
- I came to say goodbye, prophetic. Peace be with you ... - not knowing how I should greet them, I said quietly.
Never in my life have I felt such a full, all-embracing, Great POWER! .. They did not move, but it seemed that this whole hall was swaying with warm waves of some unprecedented power for me ... It was real LIFE !!! I didn't know what other words could be called. I was shocked! .. I wanted to embrace it myself! .. Take it into myself ... Or just fall on my knees! .. Feelings overwhelmed me with a stunning avalanche, hot tears flowed down my cheeks ...
- Be sane, Isidora. - the voice of one of them sounded warmly. - We wish you. You are the daughter of the Magus, you will share his path ... The Power will not leave you. Go with VERA, glad ...
My soul yearned for them with the cry of a dying bird! .. My wounded heart was torn to them, breaking against an evil fate ... But I knew that it was too late - they swayed me ... and felt sorry for me. Never before have I "heard" how deep the meaning of these wonderful words is. And now joy from their wondrous, new sound surged, filling me, not letting me breathe from the feelings that overwhelmed my wounded soul ...
In these words lived a quiet, light sadness, and an acute pain of loss, the beauty of life that I had to live, and a huge wave of Love coming from somewhere from afar and, merging with the Earth, flooding my soul and body ... , engaging every "edge" of my being, leaving no cage that would not be touched by the warmth of love. I was afraid that I would not be able to leave ... And, probably because of the same fear, I immediately woke up from a wonderful "goodbye", seeing next to me people amazing in their inner strength and beauty. Tall elders and young men stood around me, dressed in dazzling white robes that looked like long tunics. Some of them had them belted in red, and two had a patterned wide "belt" embroidered in gold and silver.
Oh look! - my impatient friend Stella unexpectedly interrupted the wonderful moment. - They are in fact very similar to your "star friends", as you showed them to me! .. Look, is it really them, what do you think ?! Well, tell me !!!
Honestly, even then, when we saw the Holy City, it seemed very familiar to me. And I also had similar thoughts as soon as I saw the Magi. But I immediately drove them away, not wanting to harbor vain "bright hopes" ... It was too important and too serious, and I just waved my hand to Stella, as if saying that we will talk later, when we are alone. I understood that Stella would be upset, because, as always, she wanted to immediately get an answer to her question. But in this moment, in my opinion, it was not nearly as important as the wonderful story told by Isidora, and I mentally asked Stella to wait. I smiled guiltily at Isidora, and she, responding with her wonderful smile, continued ...
A powerful tall old man who had something imperceptibly similar to my beloved father, who suffered in the basements of Karaffa, caught my eye. For some reason, I immediately understood - this was Vladyka ... the Great White Magus. Its amazing, piercing, domineering grey eyes they looked at me with deep sadness and warmth, as if he was saying the last "Goodbye!" to me ...
- Come, Child of the Light, we will grow you ...
Suddenly, a wonderful, joyful white Light emanated from him, which, enveloping everything around with a soft radiance, enveloped me in a tender embrace, penetrating into the most secret corners of my soul, tormented by pain ... The Light permeated every cell, leaving only goodness and peace in it, “ washing away pain and sorrow, and all the bitterness accumulated over the years. I floated in a magical radiance, forgetting all the "cruel earthly", all the "evil and false", feeling only the wondrous touch of Eternal Existence ... The feeling was shocking !!! And I mentally begged - if only it did not end ... But, according to the capricious desire of fate, everything beautiful always ends faster than we would like ...
- We gave you FAITH, she will help you, Child ... Listen to her ... And sway, Isidora ...
I didn’t even have time to answer, but the Magi "flashed" with wondrous Light and ... leaving the smell of flowering meadows, they disappeared. Sever and I were left alone ... I looked around sadly - the cave remained the same mysterious and sparkling, only there was no longer that pure, warm light that penetrated into the very soul ...
“That was the Father of Jesus, wasn't it? I asked cautiously.
- Just like the grandfather and great-grandfather of his son and grandchildren, whose death is also the fault of his soul ...
– ?!..
- Yes, Isidora, He is the one who carries the bitter burden of pain ... And you will never be able to imagine how great it is ... - Sever answered sadly.
- Perhaps it would not have been so bitter today if He had pity on the good people who perished from someone else's ignorance and cruelty in due time? evil executioners? If even now he would not have continued only to “observe” from his height how the “holy” accomplices of Karaffa burn Veduns and Witches on the squares? After all, if he is able to help, but does not want, all this earthly horror will forever lie on him! And no reason or explanation matters when a beautiful human life! .. I can never understand this, Sever. And I will not "leave" as long as good people are destroyed here, as long as my earthly House is being destroyed. Even if I never see my real one ... This is my destiny. And therefore - goodbye ...
- Goodbye, Isidora. Peace to your soul ... Forgive me.
I was again in “my” room, in my dangerous and merciless being ... And everything that just happened seemed just a wonderful dream, which I will never dream of again in this life ... Or a beautiful fairy tale, in which I was probably waiting someone has a "happy ending". But not me ... I was sorry for my failed life, but I was very proud for my brave girl, who will manage to comprehend all this great Miracle ... if Caraffa does not destroy her even before she can defend herself.
The door opened with a noise - an enraged Karaffa stood on the threshold.
- Well, where did you “walk”, Madonna Isidora? - my tormentor asked in a simulated sweet voice.
“I wanted to visit my daughter, Your Holiness. But I couldn't ...
I was completely indifferent to what he thought, and whether my "outing" made him angry. My soul soared far away, in the amazing White City, which showed me the Truth, and everything around seemed distant and wretched. But Karaffa, unfortunately, did not let him go into dreams for a long time ... Immediately, sensing my changed mood, "Holiness" panicked.
- Were you allowed into Meteora, Madonna Isidora? - asked Karaffa as calmly as possible.
I knew that in his heart he was simply "burning", wanting to get an answer faster, and decided to torment him until he tells me where my father is now.
- Does it matter, Your Holiness? After all, you have my father, from whom you can ask everything, to which it is natural, I will not answer. Or you haven't had time to interrogate him enough yet?
- I do not advise you to talk to me in such a tone, Isidora. His fate will largely depend on how you intend to behave. Therefore, try to be polite.
- And how would you behave if instead of mine, your father was here, Holiness? .. - I asked, trying to change the topic that had become dangerous.
- If my father was a HERETIC, I would have burned him at the stake! - Caraffa answered quite calmly.
What kind of soul was this “holy” man?
- Yes, I was in Meteor, Your Holiness, and I am very sorry that I will never get there again ... - I answered sincerely.
- Was it possible that you were also kicked out of there, Isidora? - Karaffa laughed in surprise.
- No, Holiness, I was invited to stay. I left myself ...
- It can not be so! There is no such person who would not want to stay there, Isidora!
- Well, why not? And my father, Holiness?
“I don’t believe what he was allowed to do. I think he should have left. It's just that his time is probably over. Or Gift was not strong enough.
It seemed to me that he was trying, by all means, to convince himself of what he really wanted to believe.
- Not all people love only themselves, you know ... - I said sadly. - There is something more important than power or strength. There is still Love in the world ...
Caraffa brushed me off like an annoying fly, as if I had just uttered some complete nonsense ...
- Love does not rule the world, Isidora, well, but I want to rule it!
- A person can do anything ... until he starts to try, Your Holiness - I could not resist, "bit" I.
And remembering something that I definitely wanted to know, she asked:
- Tell me, Your Holiness, do you know the truth about Jesus and Magdalene?
- Do you mean that they lived in Meteor? I nodded. - Surely! This was the first thing I asked them!
- How is this possible ?! .. - I asked stunned. - Did you also know that they were not Jews? - Karaffa nodded again. - But you don't talk about it anywhere? .. Nobody knows about it! But what about the TRUTH, Your Holiness?! ..
- Don't tell me, Isidora! .. - Karaffa laughed sincerely. - You are a real child! Who needs your "truth"? .. The crowd, which has never looked for it?! .. No, my dear, Truth is needed only by a handful of thinking values. The main thing is that people obey. And what is presented to them at the same time is already secondary. TRUTH is dangerous, Isidora. Where the Truth is revealed, doubts appear, well, and where doubts arise, a war begins ... I am waging MY own war, Isidora, and so far it gives me real pleasure! The world has always held on to a lie, you see ... The main thing is that this lie is interesting enough to be able to lead "narrow-minded" minds ... And believe me, Isidora, if at the same time you begin to prove to the crowd the real Truth that refutes them "Faith" is not known what, you will be torn to pieces, the same crowd ...

Niger is a West African river flowing through the territory of 5 states. In the world ranking, it occupies the 14th position in terms of length, which is approximately 4180 km. This watercourse is unique and quite interesting, which is why it is important to find out what the regime of the Niger River is. This will be discussed in the article.

On the African continent, the Niger River is second only to the Congo and the Nile. Its waterway is unusual in its shape. It carries its waters like a boomerang from the Guinean Highlands to the bay of the same name. The confluence - the mouth - is considered Atlantic Ocean... At the very source, Niger is called Djoliba and flows to the northeast, changing direction to the east in the Timbuktu region and turning southeast in the town of Burem. There are several versions about the origin of the name of the river. One of the most reliable is the translation from Tuareg, which literally means “river, flowing water”.

Features of currents

In the middle reaches, the Niger is a flat river. Rapids are often found in the upper and lower parts of it, where the path flows along the slopes of the Guinean Uplands. Taking its origin in the northern side of the mountains, the water stream flows over rough terrain and has several waterfalls. This affects the nature and regime of the Niger River. Here the watercourse is deep and swift. Starting from Saleh, the flow of the river slows down. It moves northeastward along the inner delta. The flow of the river becomes faster, bypassing Timbuktu. Here the watercourse changes its direction of movement. The waters of the smaller rivers flowing into the lower basin re-saturate the Niger, making it deep. Among the many tributaries, the main ones are: Benue, Bani, Kaduna, Milano, Sokoto.

River transport

The Niger River regime allows the channel to be used for the passage of ships. Downstream the stream is navigable all year round, in the upper and middle - depending on the high water. Its peculiarity is that everything is different in different areas. For example, the water area of ​​the river from Bammako to Timbuktu is navigable only from July to January. From June to October, the section between Gabba and Lokoji is available for ships.

Niger River feeding regime and water discharge

Like most other African rivers, Niger is rain fed. The catchment basin covers an area of ​​more than 2.117 thousand square meters. km. Water is consumed in a volume of approximately 8630 cubic meters per second. Water consumption during floods increases significantly and reaches about 30-35 thousand cubic meters. meters per second. More than half of the moisture loss occurs through evaporation and filtration. The driest area is located between Segou and Timbuktu. These losses are not compensated even by the inflow of the Bani River, in the area of ​​the city of Mopti. The river carries about 378 cubic meters per year. km of water.

28-08-2015, 21:08

• Benue
  River in West Africa (Cameroon, Nigeria). The largest left tributary of the Niger River. The length is 1400 km (according to other sources, 960 km). The basin area is 441 thousand km². Average consumption 3170 m³ / sec. Navigable from the city of Ibi (during the rainy season from the city of Garwa). By its nature, it is a flat river flowing in a wide valley. It flows through densely populated areas of humid savannahs.
• Veme
  River in West Africa. For its considerable extent, it forms a natural border between the states of Benin and Nigeria. The length of the river is 480 km. The river basin area is 46,990 km². Average annual water consumption - 170 m³ / s.
• Kaduna
  River in Nigeria, left tributary of the Niger. The total length of the river is about 550 km. The river got its name from the crocodiles that lived in the area of ​​the river. Kaduna in Hausa language means "crocodiles, crocodile place".
• Komadugu-Yobe
  A river in Nigeria and Niger that flows into Lake Chad. The source will be on the territory of Nigeria, the lower course is the natural border between Nigeria and Niger.
• Cross
  A river in West Africa, originating in Cameroon, flows through the Department of Manyu westward to Nigeria. Turning south and separating the Nigerian state of the Cross River from the more western Ebonya and Akwa Ibom flows into the Gulf of Guinea. One of the main peoples inhabiting the banks of the Cross River is Efik.
• Niger
  The most important river in West Africa. The length is 4180 km, the basin area is 2 117 700 km ², the third in these parameters in Africa after the Nile and Congo. The source of the river is on the slopes of the Leono-Liberian Uplands in southeastern Guinea. The river flows through the territory of Mali, Niger, along the border with Benin, and then through the territory of Nigeria. It flows into the Gulf of Guinea of ​​the Atlantic Ocean, forming a delta in the confluence area. The largest tributary of the Niger is the Benue River.
• Nun
  The river is the longest arm of the Niger and is therefore considered the main extension of the Niger, unlike the other arms: Forcados, Brass, Bonnie and Sombrerio. The Nun crosses the Niger Delta from north to south through the state of Bayelsa. The river originates about 32 km south of the city of Abo, where the Niger divides into Nun and Forcados. It flows through sparsely populated swampy areas and mangroves, flows into the Gulf of Guinea near the village of Akassa. The length of the river is approximately 160 km.
• Sokoto
  A river flowing in the northwest of Nigeria. The source of the river is located in Funtua County, Katsina State. The river flows through four states: Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi. On the banks of the river, locals grow cotton, tobacco, peanuts, sugarcane, rice and other agricultural crops. An irrigation system has been developed.
• Forcados
  The Forcados River has been one of the Niger's branches used for shipping since the early 20th century. Forcados crosses the Niger Delta from north to south through Rivers State. Its source is considered to be the bifurcation of Niger into Nun and Forcados, 32 km south of the village of Abokh. Forcados, flowing through sparsely populated swampy areas and mangroves, flows into the Atlantic Ocean west of the Gulf of Benin. The length of the river is approximately 198 km. The tributaries of Forcados are the Ase and Varri rivers (right tributaries).

Niger flows through the territory:,. Niger is the third largest river after and and the second most abundant western river, bearing various names among the coastal natives, of which the name Djoliba prevails in the upper reaches, Egirreu in the middle, and Kvara or Kvorra in the lower, the Arabs call it Nil-el -Abid (Neil slaves). Niger originates at 8 ° 36` and 10 ° 33`W (from Greenwich) in the East of the Kong Mountains, in Kuranco, at an altitude of 850 meters above sea level and initially flows northward towards, then turns to the South east and south and, through several branches, of which the largest: Sombrero, Nen, Brass and Forcado, flows into the Gulf of Guinea.

140 kilometers from its source, which, being sacred, is inaccessible to foreigners and precise definition, Niger, still called Tembi, takes on the left the wide Faliko River with its tributary Tamikon, after which, under the name of Joliba, flows northward to 10 ° north latitude. Turning to the North-East, it receives on the left several small, and on the right - significant tributaries: Mifu and Yandan, or Niannu, turning back to the north, receives Milo and Tankisso; here the slope of the Niger is reduced to half (only 329 meters above sea level), its channel becomes wider, but shallower - and for 400 kilometers it flows to the northeast, forming the border line between the kingdom of Segu. At Bomak, the Niger in floods is up to 800 meters wide and forms rapids, capriciously changing the width of the channel; near Niamina becomes navigable and turns South; its slope becomes even smaller, the channel is lower; at Massino it is divided into two main branches, which head north towards Lake Debu. At Diafaraba, these arms are interconnected by natural channels, which, crossing, form from the network the island area of ​​Burgu, 200 square kilometers; on one of these islands lies the old Jenne, or Guineva, ch. d. The land of the blacks, from which the whole country got its name Guinea. Further, the Niger enters the territory of the fellahs, where it is called Issa and goes to the North, crossing Lake Debo, receives many tributaries and again divides into the Danko and Mayo Balleo branches; near Kabara, the harbor of the city, reaches 17 ° north latitude and flows to E along the desert; along this route, the Tozaye rapids impede navigation at a slow current, and among the extremely low shores of the Niger reaches the country of Ussa, where the new name Gulbinkovary, or Kovary, bears. At Burrum, the river turns sharply to the South-East and enters, after the Massina lowland and the rocky Timbuktu desert, into a hilly country with a tropical one and again forms whole networks of branches near Gago, the ancient capital of the Sanrai empire. Having broken through the rapids surrounding the Bornu Guntu island, Niger spills like a wide tablecloth and only at Akarambai, to the South of Ansongo Island, it narrows again, constrained by the walls of rocks, to a width of 30 meters.

In the middle reaches, the Niger takes in: Gorajend, flowing from Libtako, Kassani, or Tederimt, Sirbia, or Chirbu, and Gulbi-n-Sokoto near Gomba. From Gomba to the Bussa rapids, Niger is navigable, steamers run between Rabba and Lokodja, although sandy shoals sometimes interfere with navigation here. Here Kaduna, or Liful, and a little further Gurara flow into Niger; its most significant tributary, the Benue, flows into the Lokodja, originating north of Ngahuandare in Adamey, in the rainy season it joins the lake. From Lokoja at Ebo (at the head of the delta), the Niger, connected to the Benue, flows in a majestic stream, rushing south among the rocks and, bending in gradual terraces, receives a parallel tributary of the Amambara to the left. The width of the Niger is increasing, and it rushes in a stream towards, into the Gulf of Guinea, into which it flows into the aforementioned branches. The Niger Delta covers an area of ​​25,000 square kilometers, low-lying, swampy and covered with thickets of mangroves. Niger's navigability depends, in addition to rapids and waterfalls, on its high water or shallow water. In the upper reaches of the Niger to Timbuktu, there is high water from July to early January, and here it is navigable from Bammako to Timbuktu; in the middle reaches of the Niger, it is deep and navigable from Gabba to Lokoja, from June to October; in the lower reaches from Lokoja to Akassa, thanks to the Benue water tributary, the Niger is deep from June to the end of September and has a secondary high water from January to the end of April, depending on the high water in the upper reaches; Here it is navigable at all seasons of the year.

The way to eat nigga: the river is fed by summer waters.

Tributaries of the Niger: Milo (right), Bani (right), Sokoto (left), Kaduna (left), Benue (left).

Inhabitants of Niger: in the Niger it is very developed, the main commercial fish species are: carp, perch, barbel (or barbel) and others.

Freezing Niger: does not freeze.