Niger

ni'jer, a river of western Africa. It rises in the southwestern portion of Sudan, about 300 miles from the Atlantic, describes a wide arc to the north and east, and returns to the Atlantic again, discharging an enormous volume of water through several mouths into the Gulf of Guinea. It drains an area of about 575,000 square miles. It is 2,500 miles in length, being the third river in size in Africa. The first European to visit the Niger was Mungo Park in 1796. In 1797 he attempted a more thorough exploration and was drowned in its waters. The basin of the Niger is claimed in portions by various European powers, including France, England, and Germany. There are vast forests and much fertile land. Its uplands, waters, and jungles are still the retreat of the lion, the elephant, the hippopotamus, the crocodile, and other famous wild animals of Africa. Timbuctoo, on the upper course, is visited by ships of size. Seen from a steamboat the banks are not wholly jungle. Fields pasturing donkeys and camels, cities, and mud villages vary the monotony. Blue kingfishers nest in the banks. Black crows with white breasts strut about, flocks of pelicans rise from the shallows, and the cry of the wild guinea fowl is heard. At Timbuctoo navigation ceases. Traffic is resumed by caravan. Like the Nile, the Niger is subject to overflow. Its basin is destined to become a wealthy, productive region. See Timbuctoo; Congo