Niger River

The Niger River is the principal river of western Africa, extending over 2500 miles (about 4000 km). It runs in a crescent through Guinea, Mali, Niger, Benin and Nigeria, discharging through a massive delta, known as the Oil Rivers, into the Gulf of Guinea. The Niger is the third longest river in Africa, exceeded only by the Nile and the Congo River (also known as the Zaïre River). Its main tributary is the Benue River.

Etymology

The name of the river Niger probably derives from the Latin or Portuguese word for "black", niger; another theory suggests that it comes from the Tuareg language gher n gheren = "river of rivers", The West African nations of Nigeria and Niger are named after the river. Its inhabitants have a variety of names for it depending on language, notably Joliba (in Manding) and Isa Ber ("big river", in Songhay).

Related Topics:
Latin - Portuguese - Tuareg - Nigeria - Niger - Manding - Songhay

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The middle and lower course of the Niger was also known as Quorra.

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