Up in the Air over Niger! Trivia Quiz

Answer: West Africa

Pronounced "NYE-jer" or "nee-ZHAIR", the country of Niger is located in the western part of Africa. Niger is named after the Niger River, and the name "Niger" is believed to come from the Tamasheq language from a phrase, gher n-gheren, which means "river among rivers", although some sources believe it comes from the Latin word for "black".

Incidentally, the people of Niger are called Nigeriens, different from their neighbors in Nigeria who are called Nigerians.

Answer: They are all landlocked.

Niger is among several landlocked countries within Africa. Although there are several rivers in Niger, a lack of water from recurring droughts is one of the main challenges facing the country. Despite being named after the Niger River, only a small section of it runs through the southern part of the country, and neither the source nor the mouth of the river are within Niger (the source is in Guinea and the mouth, the Niger Delta, is in Nigeria).

Answer: Egypt

Egypt is located in the northeastern corner of Africa, while Niger is in the west. Niger's largest border is with its southern neighbor, Nigeria. In descending order by length of the border, the other countries are: Chad, Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin and Libya.

Answer: The Sahara Desert covers 80 percent of Niger.

The terrain of Niger consists largely of the plains and the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert, which covers a large swath of the northern third of Africa. There are mountains in the north of Niger where there is some greenery, but most of the flora of Niger occurs in the southern part of the country along the Niger River. Not surprisingly, most Nigeriens live in this area also.

Answer: Uranium

Mining is the main industry in Niger, and the country is one of the world's leading producers of uranium. Other natural resources include coal, oil, phosphates, iron, limestone and gold. Livestock is another major export product for Niger, but the total revenue from livestock sales isn't known as many transactions are conducted informally by Nigeriens moving their herds into neighboring countries.

The raising of livestock, unfortunately, contributes to some of the threats facing Niger due to overgrazing, soil erosion and desertification caused by the herds.

Answer: Kennedy Bridge

The Kennedy Bridge was funded by the U.S. during the 1960s, and it opened in the early 1970s. It is the main crossing over the Niger River for the capital city and is used not only by vehicles but also by camels! The opening of the bridge allowed Niamey to expand to the southern shore of the river, although that area is mainly residential.

Answer: Sorghum and millet

Most farming in Niger is subsistence farming, and it occurs along the rivers in southern Niger and near the Air Massif mountain range in northern Niger. Millet is the main staple grain of Nigeriens, and both sorghum and millet are largely grown for use by the population. Several other crops are grown for export, with onions being the main one.

Answer: The Kaouar Oasis

Bilma lies at the feet of the Kaouar Cliffs. The oasis is filled by groundwater that allows for crops and gardens to be grown in the area. The area is particularly known for its dates (the fruits, not a dating service). There are also ponds that are used for salt production. Tourism is a fledgling industry for the area for those who desire to see a true Saharan oasis, although getting there can be an adventure!

Answer: Air and Tenere Natural Reserves

The reserve covers a large area of Niger between the Tenere Desert and the Air Massif range. Besides a wide variety of desert flora, the area is also a refuge for animals such as the addax, oryx, cheetah and gazelle. A famous sight in the reserve was the Tree of Tenere; it was the only landmark of any kind for many miles until a driver hit it in 1973.

Answer: It's one of the hottest countries in the world.

Some sources even claim that Niger IS the hottest country in the world, with one source listing its nickname as the "Frying Pan of the World". The average daily temperature ranges from 85 F to 105 F (30 C to 41 C) year round. Rainfall varies depending on the area of Niger, with less than an inch falling in some of the desert regions.

In July and August, southern Niger gets the bulk of the rain with some places getting up to 30 inches in those months. So instead of just hot, this area is humid and hot.