Q 01/05

The Niger River rises only 240 km from the Atlantic, then flows away from the sea toward which desert?

A) Kalahari

B) Sahara

C) Namib

D) Nubian

Answer · why

B) Sahara

The Sahara is where the river heads first; it turns back toward the ocean only after a sharp right-hand bend deep in Mali.

Q 02/05

The Great Mosque of Djenné, in the Niger River's inland delta, is the world's largest building made of what?

A) Mud brick

B) Coral stone

C) Woven reed

D) Rammed chalk

Answer · why

A) Mud brick

Mud brick, or adobe, needs constant care, so the whole community of Djenné re-plasters the mosque by hand at a yearly festival.

Q 03/05

Which fabled desert-edge trading city stands about 15 km north of the Niger River's main channel?

A) Agadez

B) Kumasi

C) Timbuktu

D) Marrakesh

Answer · why

C) Timbuktu

Timbuktu was once linked to its river port, Kabara, by a canal that silted up and was dug out again in 2007.

Q 04/05

Geologists say the Niger River's odd course, heading inland before doubling back to the sea, arose in which way?

A) A volcano blocked its path

B) An earthquake tilted the land

C) Glaciers carved a new valley

D) Two ancient rivers joined up

Answer · why

D) Two ancient rivers joined up

Two ancient rivers joined up when the lower one eroded upstream and captured the upper one, which had drained into a now-dry lake.

Q 05/05

Camel caravans hauled which mineral across the desert to Niger River ports, where it was exchanged for gold?

A) Iron ore

B) Salt

C) Sulphur

D) Marble

Answer · why

B) Salt

Salt came in slabs from desert mines such as Taoudenni, and camel caravans were still hauling them south well into the 1900s.