Termit Massif
Encyclopedia
The Termit Massif is a mountainous region in southeastern Niger
. Just to the south of the dunes of Tenere desert and the Erg of Bilma
, the northern areas of the Termit, called the Gossololom consists of black volcanic peaks which jut from surrounding sand seas. The southern Termit is a roughly east-west range of heavily eroded black sandstone. Its foothills on the south west are the Koutous hills.
settlements in the north and east, and more Tuareg and Diffa Arabs
to the west. Covering much of the north of the Zinder and Diffa Regions, there are few permanent settlements or all weather roads in the area. Communities within the region include Termit Kaoboul in the south centre and Kandil Bouzou in the southeast. Neighbouring settlements include Tasker, Abourak and Haltouma to the southwest; Béla Hardé to the southeast, and Koussa Arma, Oyou Bezezé Denga, and Agadem on the eastern fringe. Settled communities on the south west fringe are largely Hausa
, and to the south east Kanuri. The large Kanuri town of N'guigmi
is to the southeast and the Hausa cities of Goure
and Zinder
are to the southwest.
, a 700,000 hectare faunal reserve established in 1962 to protect endangered antelope and Addax populations.
In 2006, the government of Niger applied to UNESCO
to have the Termit Massif area named a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
. Just to the south of the dunes of Tenere desert and the Erg of Bilma
Erg of Bilma
The Erg of Bilma is a Dune Sea in the Ténéré desert region of the south central Sahara. The Erg of Bilma stretches from Fachi, east of the Aïr Mountains in north central Niger, east past the town of Bilma, on to the Chadian border...
, the northern areas of the Termit, called the Gossololom consists of black volcanic peaks which jut from surrounding sand seas. The southern Termit is a roughly east-west range of heavily eroded black sandstone. Its foothills on the south west are the Koutous hills.
Human settlement
The small population of the Termit is mostly nomadic, with ToubouToubou
The Tubu are an ethnic group that live mainly in northern Chad, but also in Libya, Niger and Sudan....
settlements in the north and east, and more Tuareg and Diffa Arabs
Diffa Arabs
Diffa Arabs is the Nigerien name given to Arab nomadic tribespeople living in eastern Niger, mostly in the Diffa Region...
to the west. Covering much of the north of the Zinder and Diffa Regions, there are few permanent settlements or all weather roads in the area. Communities within the region include Termit Kaoboul in the south centre and Kandil Bouzou in the southeast. Neighbouring settlements include Tasker, Abourak and Haltouma to the southwest; Béla Hardé to the southeast, and Koussa Arma, Oyou Bezezé Denga, and Agadem on the eastern fringe. Settled communities on the south west fringe are largely Hausa
Hausa people
The Hausa are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. They are a Sahelian people chiefly located in northern Nigeria and southeastern Niger, but having significant numbers living in regions of Cameroon, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Chad and Sudan...
, and to the south east Kanuri. The large Kanuri town of N'guigmi
N'guigmi
N'guigmi is a city and Commune of fifteen thousand in the eastern most part of Niger, very near to Lake Chad - lying on its shore until the lake retreated....
is to the southeast and the Hausa cities of Goure
Goure
Goure is a town in southeastern Niger, Zinder Region, Goure Department, of which it is the seat.-Situation:Situated on the main all weather east - west highway in Southern Niger, it is about 170 km east of regional capital, Zinder, on the route east to Diffa, N'Guigmi, and the Lake Chad area...
and Zinder
Zinder
Zinder is the second largest city in Niger, with a population of 170,574 by 2005 was estimated to be over 200,000...
are to the southwest.
Ecological protection
Termit is home to the Termit Massif ReserveTermit Massif Reserve
The Termit Massif Total Reserve is a nature reserve in the southeast of the African nation of Niger.-Geography:It is a Total Faunal Reserve IUCN type IV, established 1 January 1962, covering over 700,000 hectares of the Termit Massif...
, a 700,000 hectare faunal reserve established in 1962 to protect endangered antelope and Addax populations.
In 2006, the government of Niger applied to UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
to have the Termit Massif area named a UNESCO World Heritage site.