Size: 1.5 million sq km/579,150 sq mi.
Interesting Information: The flow is slow and the river frequently floods its banks. It was explored by the Scot Mungo Park 1795-1806, who was drowned in the river near Bussa. Early seats of Muslim learning were established along the north at Jenne and Timbuktu.
The power of the Mande was succeeded in the 15th and 16th centuries by the rise of the Songhai along the middle Niger toward Gao.Mungo Park explored the upper reaches of the river from Gambia between 1795 and 1806, and another 100 years passed before the French extended their control from Senegal to Timbuktu.European explorers for many years, and the popular view was that the upper Niger flowed eventually into the Nile. In 1830 the Lander brothers followed the river from Bussa to the sea, but only in 1850 did Heinrich Barth sail from Timbuktu toBussa.
Bibliography:
Author not available, Niger (river). , The Hutchinson Encyclopedia 2000, 01-01-2000. Electric Library, books. http://www.elibrary.com/s/edumark/getdoc.
Created by: Ashley
Date Created: September 24, 2001
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