Mali is a landlocked nation in West Africa, located southwest of Algeria, extending south-west from the southern Sahara Desert through the Sahel to the Sudanian savanna zone. Mali's size is 1,240,192 square kilometers.
Desert or semi-desert covers about 65 percent of Mali's total area (1,240,192 square kilometers). The Niger River creates a large and fertile inland delta as it arcs northeast through Mali from Guinea before turning south and eventually emptying into the Gulf of Guinea. [1]
The territory encompasses three natural zones: the southern cultivated Sudanese zone, central semi-desert Sahelian zone, and northern desert Saharan zone. The terrain is primarily savanna in the south and flat to rolling plains or high plateau (200–500 meters in elevation) in the north. There are rugged hills in the northeast, with elevations of up to 1,000 meters.
The Niger (with 1,693 kilometers in Mali) and Senegal are Mali's two largest rivers. The Niger is generally described as Mali's lifeblood, a source of food, drinking water, irrigation, and transportation. [1]
The country's lowest point is on the Senegal River (23 m) and its highest point is Hombori Tondo (1155 m).
Mali is one of the hottest countries in the world, and has overall a hot, sunny and dry climate dominated by the subtropical ridge. The thermal equator, which matches the hottest spots year-round on the planet based on the mean daily annual temperature, crosses the country [1] Most of Mali receives negligible rainfall and droughts are very frequent [1] Late April to early October is the rainy season in the southernmost area. During this time, flooding of the Niger River is common, creating the Inner Niger Delta. The vast northern desert part of Mali has a hot desert climate (Köppen BWh) with long, extremely hot summers and scarce rainfall which decreases northwards. The central area has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh) with very high temperatures year-round, a long, intense dry season and a brief, irregular rainy season. The southern areas have a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw) featuring very high temperatures year-round with a dry season and a rainy season. [1] During the hottest season of the year, temperatures are high throughout the country. Timbuktu, Taghaza, Taoudenni, Araouane, Gao, Kidal and Tessalit are some of the hottest spots on Earth during their warmest months. Kayes, with an average high temperature of about 44 °C or 111.2 °F in April is nicknamed "the pressure cooker of Africa" due to the extreme heat year-round. The heat is more extreme to the north in the Sahara Desert; the maximum average high temperature of the year reaches 46 °C or 114.8 °F in Araouane in June [2] and comes close to 48 °C or 118.4 °F in the Taoudenni region during July. [3] Sunshine duration is high in Mali, reaching the highest levels in the northern arid zone with about 3,600 – 3,700 h a year.
Climate data for Bamako (1950–2000, extremes 1949–2015) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 38.9 (102.0) | 42.8 (109.0) | 43.9 (111.0) | 43.5 (110.3) | 45.0 (113.0) | 42.0 (107.6) | 40.0 (104.0) | 37.8 (100.0) | 38.4 (101.1) | 38.9 (102.0) | 42.0 (107.6) | 40.0 (104.0) | 45.0 (113.0) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 33.4 (92.1) | 36.4 (97.5) | 38.5 (101.3) | 39.6 (103.3) | 38.5 (101.3) | 35.3 (95.5) | 32.1 (89.8) | 31.1 (88.0) | 32.2 (90.0) | 34.6 (94.3) | 35.3 (95.5) | 33.4 (92.1) | 35.0 (95.0) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 17.0 (62.6) | 19.9 (67.8) | 22.9 (73.2) | 25.2 (77.4) | 25.4 (77.7) | 23.6 (74.5) | 22.2 (72.0) | 21.8 (71.2) | 21.6 (70.9) | 21.3 (70.3) | 18.4 (65.1) | 16.8 (62.2) | 21.3 (70.3) |
Record low °C (°F) | 8.7 (47.7) | 9.0 (48.2) | 12.0 (53.6) | 15.8 (60.4) | 17.8 (64.0) | 16.1 (61.0) | 17.5 (63.5) | 17.2 (63.0) | 18.0 (64.4) | 14.7 (58.5) | 10.8 (51.4) | 6.0 (42.8) | 6.0 (42.8) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 0.6 (0.02) | 0.7 (0.03) | 2.1 (0.08) | 19.7 (0.78) | 54.1 (2.13) | 132.1 (5.20) | 224.1 (8.82) | 290.2 (11.43) | 195.9 (7.71) | 66.1 (2.60) | 5.2 (0.20) | 0.5 (0.02) | 991.3 (39.03) |
Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 3.3 | 6.3 | 7.7 | 16.7 | 17.9 | 14.7 | 5.7 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 73.7 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 24 | 20 | 22 | 33 | 50 | 67 | 77 | 81 | 78 | 65 | 38 | 27 | 49 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 277.4 | 253.0 | 268.1 | 230.4 | 242.6 | 233.6 | 216.6 | 218.3 | 221.7 | 253.7 | 270.7 | 268.6 | 2,954.7 |
Source 1: World Meteorological Organization [4] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: NOAA (sun 1961–1990), [5] Deutscher Wetterdienst (extremes and humidity) [6] |
Climate data for Sikasso, Mali (1950-2000, extremes 1940-1994) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 40.5 (104.9) | 41.2 (106.2) | 42.1 (107.8) | 42.0 (107.6) | 44.0 (111.2) | 39.2 (102.6) | 42.2 (108.0) | 36.7 (98.1) | 38.9 (102.0) | 38.9 (102.0) | 40.0 (104.0) | 39.2 (102.6) | 44.0 (111.2) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 33.5 (92.3) | 36.0 (96.8) | 37.4 (99.3) | 37.3 (99.1) | 35.6 (96.1) | 32.9 (91.2) | 30.7 (87.3) | 29.9 (85.8) | 31.0 (87.8) | 33.3 (91.9) | 34.4 (93.9) | 33.1 (91.6) | 33.8 (92.8) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 15.3 (59.5) | 18.3 (64.9) | 22.1 (71.8) | 24.6 (76.3) | 24.1 (75.4) | 22.4 (72.3) | 21.5 (70.7) | 21.4 (70.5) | 21.3 (70.3) | 21.5 (70.7) | 18.5 (65.3) | 15.2 (59.4) | 20.5 (68.9) |
Record low °C (°F) | 8.2 (46.8) | 10.0 (50.0) | 13.0 (55.4) | 16.8 (62.2) | 17.1 (62.8) | 17.7 (63.9) | 17.2 (63.0) | 17.0 (62.6) | 18.0 (64.4) | 14.0 (57.2) | 10.0 (50.0) | 8.0 (46.4) | 8.0 (46.4) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 1.4 (0.06) | 4.1 (0.16) | 12.8 (0.50) | 45.9 (1.81) | 109.1 (4.30) | 152.3 (6.00) | 243.7 (9.59) | 308.8 (12.16) | 210.0 (8.27) | 84.4 (3.32) | 11.7 (0.46) | 2.0 (0.08) | 1,186.2 (46.71) |
Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 0.2 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 5.4 | 9.9 | 12.7 | 17.0 | 20.0 | 14.5 | 9.0 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 93.2 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 31 | 27 | 33 | 48 | 61 | 72 | 79 | 82 | 80 | 71 | 52 | 38 | 56 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 263.1 | 242.3 | 237.6 | 217.5 | 242.0 | 220.8 | 203.2 | 176.6 | 190.7 | 243.0 | 257.6 | 261.6 | 2,756 |
Source 1: World Meteorological Organization [7] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: NOAA (sun 1961–1990), [8] Deutscher Wetterdienst (extremes and humidity) [9] |
Climate data for Kayes (1950-2000) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 33.6 (92.5) | 36.6 (97.9) | 39.4 (102.9) | 41.7 (107.1) | 41.9 (107.4) | 38.2 (100.8) | 33.6 (92.5) | 32.0 (89.6) | 33.1 (91.6) | 36.1 (97.0) | 36.7 (98.1) | 33.5 (92.3) | 36.4 (97.5) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 16.9 (62.4) | 19.3 (66.7) | 22.2 (72.0) | 25.5 (77.9) | 28.4 (83.1) | 26.6 (79.9) | 24.2 (75.6) | 23.3 (73.9) | 23.2 (73.8) | 23.0 (73.4) | 20.0 (68.0) | 17.2 (63.0) | 22.5 (72.5) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.4 (0.02) | 0.1 (0.00) | 0.6 (0.02) | 12.0 (0.47) | 82.6 (3.25) | 155.2 (6.11) | 215.9 (8.50) | 140.9 (5.55) | 41.2 (1.62) | 2.7 (0.11) | 1.1 (0.04) | 652.7 (25.69) |
Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 2.8 | 7.8 | 12.3 | 14.8 | 11.4 | 4.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 53.4 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 263.5 | 250.0 | 282.1 | 285.0 | 279.0 | 215.0 | 211.8 | 223.2 | 240.0 | 263.5 | 264.0 | 260.6 | 3,037.7 |
Source 1: World Meteorological Organization [10] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: NOAA (sun 1961–1990) [11] |
Climate data for Mopti (1950-2000, extremes 1935-1994) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 39.2 (102.6) | 44.0 (111.2) | 44.6 (112.3) | 45.5 (113.9) | 48.3 (118.9) | 46.7 (116.1) | 43.2 (109.8) | 43.3 (109.9) | 42.8 (109.0) | 44.4 (111.9) | 44.5 (112.1) | 39.3 (102.7) | 48.3 (118.9) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 31.7 (89.1) | 34.9 (94.8) | 37.7 (99.9) | 40.2 (104.4) | 40.5 (104.9) | 38.3 (100.9) | 34.6 (94.3) | 32.6 (90.7) | 33.3 (91.9) | 35.5 (95.9) | 35.0 (95.0) | 31.6 (88.9) | 35.5 (95.9) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 15.1 (59.2) | 17.6 (63.7) | 21.2 (70.2) | 24.7 (76.5) | 26.5 (79.7) | 25.7 (78.3) | 23.9 (75.0) | 23.3 (73.9) | 23.7 (74.7) | 23.4 (74.1) | 19.5 (67.1) | 16.0 (60.8) | 21.7 (71.1) |
Record low °C (°F) | 6.1 (43.0) | 7.2 (45.0) | 10.0 (50.0) | 13.4 (56.1) | 15.8 (60.4) | 18.3 (64.9) | 17.4 (63.3) | 18.0 (64.4) | 15.0 (59.0) | 14.4 (57.9) | 11.9 (53.4) | 7.0 (44.6) | 6.1 (43.0) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 0.8 (0.03) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.8 (0.03) | 4.0 (0.16) | 23.4 (0.92) | 55.8 (2.20) | 140.5 (5.53) | 165.6 (6.52) | 88.7 (3.49) | 19.8 (0.78) | 0.3 (0.01) | 0.4 (0.02) | 500.1 (19.69) |
Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 7.5 | 12.3 | 14.0 | 8.6 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 50.7 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 24 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 33 | 47 | 62 | 70 | 66 | 49 | 31 | 27 | 39 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 272.6 | 270.0 | 274.2 | 254.6 | 269.2 | 242.3 | 244.3 | 246.2 | 249.8 | 278.5 | 282.0 | 264.3 | 3,148 |
Source 1: World Meteorological Organization [12] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: NOAA (sun 1961-1990), [13] Deutscher Wetterdienst (extremes and humidity) [14] |
Climate data for Timbuktu (1950–2000, extremes 1897–present) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 41.6 (106.9) | 43.5 (110.3) | 46.1 (115.0) | 48.9 (120.0) | 49.0 (120.2) | 49.0 (120.2) | 46.0 (114.8) | 46.5 (115.7) | 45.0 (113.0) | 48.0 (118.4) | 42.5 (108.5) | 40.0 (104.0) | 49.0 (120.2) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 30.0 (86.0) | 33.2 (91.8) | 36.6 (97.9) | 40.0 (104.0) | 42.2 (108.0) | 41.6 (106.9) | 38.5 (101.3) | 36.5 (97.7) | 38.3 (100.9) | 39.1 (102.4) | 35.2 (95.4) | 30.4 (86.7) | 36.8 (98.2) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 21.5 (70.7) | 24.2 (75.6) | 27.6 (81.7) | 31.3 (88.3) | 34.1 (93.4) | 34.5 (94.1) | 32.2 (90.0) | 30.7 (87.3) | 31.6 (88.9) | 30.9 (87.6) | 26.5 (79.7) | 22.0 (71.6) | 28.9 (84.0) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 13.0 (55.4) | 15.2 (59.4) | 18.5 (65.3) | 22.5 (72.5) | 26.0 (78.8) | 27.3 (81.1) | 25.8 (78.4) | 24.8 (76.6) | 24.8 (76.6) | 22.7 (72.9) | 17.7 (63.9) | 13.5 (56.3) | 21.0 (69.8) |
Record low °C (°F) | 1.7 (35.1) | 7.5 (45.5) | 7.0 (44.6) | 8.0 (46.4) | 18.5 (65.3) | 17.4 (63.3) | 18.0 (64.4) | 20.0 (68.0) | 18.9 (66.0) | 13.0 (55.4) | 11.0 (51.8) | 3.5 (38.3) | 1.7 (35.1) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 0.6 (0.02) | 0.1 (0.00) | 0.1 (0.00) | 1.0 (0.04) | 4.0 (0.16) | 16.4 (0.65) | 53.5 (2.11) | 73.6 (2.90) | 29.4 (1.16) | 3.8 (0.15) | 0.1 (0.00) | 0.2 (0.01) | 182.8 (7.20) |
Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 6.6 | 8.1 | 4.7 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 25.3 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 263.9 | 249.6 | 269.9 | 254.6 | 275.3 | 234.7 | 248.6 | 255.3 | 248.9 | 273.0 | 274.0 | 258.7 | 3,106.5 |
Source 1: World Meteorological Organization, [15] NOAA (sun 1961–1990) [16] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Meteo Climat (record highs and lows) [17] |
Climate data for Gao, Mali (1950–2000) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 30.8 (87.4) | 33.8 (92.8) | 37.2 (99.0) | 40.7 (105.3) | 42.5 (108.5) | 41.5 (106.7) | 38.5 (101.3) | 36.6 (97.9) | 38.4 (101.1) | 39.3 (102.7) | 35.8 (96.4) | 31.4 (88.5) | 37.2 (99.0) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 14.8 (58.6) | 17.0 (62.6) | 20.8 (69.4) | 24.7 (76.5) | 28.2 (82.8) | 28.8 (83.8) | 26.6 (79.9) | 25.4 (77.7) | 26.0 (78.8) | 24.9 (76.8) | 19.9 (67.8) | 15.8 (60.4) | 22.7 (72.9) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.00) | 0.3 (0.01) | 1.7 (0.07) | 7.7 (0.30) | 22.8 (0.90) | 63.6 (2.50) | 84.2 (3.31) | 33.5 (1.32) | 4.8 (0.19) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.00) | 218.8 (8.61) |
Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 3.9 | 7.9 | 8.4 | 5.2 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 28.5 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 269.8 | 257.9 | 269.6 | 254.2 | 274.9 | 227.1 | 249.7 | 251.5 | 253.5 | 279.8 | 280.8 | 261.9 | 3,130.7 |
Source 1: World Meteorological Organization [18] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: NOAA (sun 1961–1990) [19] |
Climate data for Kidal (1950–2000) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 28.0 (82.4) | 31.1 (88.0) | 34.8 (94.6) | 38.8 (101.8) | 41.5 (106.7) | 41.9 (107.4) | 39.9 (103.8) | 38.4 (101.1) | 39.1 (102.4) | 38.0 (100.4) | 33.4 (92.1) | 28.9 (84.0) | 36.2 (97.2) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 12.5 (54.5) | 14.8 (58.6) | 18.7 (65.7) | 23.0 (73.4) | 27.0 (80.6) | 28.6 (83.5) | 27.2 (81.0) | 26.2 (79.2) | 26.0 (78.8) | 23.2 (73.8) | 18.0 (64.4) | 13.7 (56.7) | 21.6 (70.9) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 0.6 (0.02) | 0.1 (0.00) | 0.2 (0.01) | 1.0 (0.04) | 5.3 (0.21) | 11.6 (0.46) | 36.8 (1.45) | 45.9 (1.81) | 23.1 (0.91) | 3.0 (0.12) | 0.2 (0.01) | 0.2 (0.01) | 128.0 (5.04) |
Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 6.1 | 6.9 | 3.9 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 22.6 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 274.5 | 267.3 | 286.1 | 283.9 | 294.0 | 230.8 | 269.8 | 276.9 | 271.6 | 296.4 | 286.6 | 275.5 | 3,313.4 |
Source 1: World Meteorological Organization [20] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: NOAA (sun 1961–1990) [21] |
Climate data for Araouane | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 27.2 (81.0) | 31.1 (88.0) | 36.7 (98.1) | 43.3 (109.9) | 44.4 (111.9) | 46.6 (115.9) | 43.9 (111.0) | 42.8 (109.0) | 42.8 (109.0) | 39.4 (102.9) | 32.8 (91.0) | 28.3 (82.9) | 38.3 (100.9) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 18.0 (64.4) | 21.1 (70.0) | 26.2 (79.2) | 31.4 (88.5) | 33.8 (92.8) | 36.7 (98.1) | 35.0 (95.0) | 33.9 (93.0) | 34.2 (93.6) | 30.3 (86.5) | 24.2 (75.6) | 19.1 (66.4) | 28.7 (83.6) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 8.9 (48.0) | 11.1 (52.0) | 15.6 (60.1) | 19.4 (66.9) | 23.3 (73.9) | 26.7 (80.1) | 26.1 (79.0) | 25.0 (77.0) | 25.6 (78.1) | 21.1 (70.0) | 15.6 (60.1) | 10.0 (50.0) | 19.0 (66.3) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 1 (0.0) | 1 (0.0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 5 (0.2) | 5 (0.2) | 15 (0.6) | 13 (0.5) | 2 (0.1) | 2 (0.1) | 1 (0.0) | 45 (1.7) |
Source: Weather and Climate in Africa [22] |
Climate data for Taoudenni | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 26.2 (79.2) | 30 (86) | 32.5 (90.5) | 39.8 (103.6) | 42.6 (108.7) | 46.7 (116.1) | 47.9 (118.2) | 46.6 (115.9) | 44.1 (111.4) | 38.6 (101.5) | 31.6 (88.9) | 26.4 (79.5) | 37.8 (100.0) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 18.1 (64.6) | 21.1 (70.0) | 24.4 (75.9) | 29.8 (85.6) | 33.1 (91.6) | 37.2 (99.0) | 38.8 (101.8) | 37.8 (100.0) | 35.9 (96.6) | 30.4 (86.7) | 23.9 (75.0) | 18.6 (65.5) | 28.2 (82.8) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 9.9 (49.8) | 12.2 (54.0) | 16.3 (61.3) | 19.8 (67.6) | 23.6 (74.5) | 27.6 (81.7) | 29.6 (85.3) | 29 (84) | 27.6 (81.7) | 22.1 (71.8) | 16.2 (61.2) | 10.8 (51.4) | 20.4 (68.7) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 0.5 (0.02) | 0.1 (0.00) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.2 (0.01) | 0.2 (0.01) | 0.4 (0.02) | 3.0 (0.12) | 8.5 (0.33) | 5.4 (0.21) | 1.6 (0.06) | 0.5 (0.02) | 0.4 (0.02) | 20.8 (0.82) |
Average precipitation days | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.3 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 33.5 | 29.1 | 25.6 | 23.1 | 23.5 | 28.9 | 35.8 | 43.0 | 40.4 | 31.4 | 32.3 | 34.2 | 31.7 |
Source: Weatherbase [23] |
Climate data for Teghaza | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 25.2 (77.4) | 29.0 (84.2) | 31.7 (89.1) | 38.3 (100.9) | 41.3 (106.3) | 45.7 (114.3) | 48.2 (118.8) | 46.8 (116.2) | 43.5 (110.3) | 37.4 (99.3) | 30.5 (86.9) | 25.1 (77.2) | 36.9 (98.4) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 17.0 (62.6) | 20.1 (68.2) | 23.5 (74.3) | 28.3 (82.9) | 31.7 (89.1) | 35.8 (96.4) | 38.7 (101.7) | 37.7 (99.9) | 35.1 (95.2) | 29.1 (84.4) | 22.8 (73.0) | 17.4 (63.3) | 28.1 (82.6) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 8.8 (47.8) | 11.2 (52.2) | 15.3 (59.5) | 18.4 (65.1) | 22.2 (72.0) | 26.0 (78.8) | 29.2 (84.6) | 28.6 (83.5) | 26.7 (80.1) | 20.8 (69.4) | 15.2 (59.4) | 9.7 (49.5) | 19.3 (66.8) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.0) | 3 (0.1) | 4 (0.2) | 1 (0.0) | 1 (0.0) | 0 (0) | 11 (0.3) |
Source: Climate-Data.org [24] |
Geologically, Mali consists mostly of vast flatlands of granite and shale covered by sandstone and alluvial quartz. [25] Mali extends over two main geological structures, the West African craton in the west and the Tuareg shield in the southeast, which came together at the end of the Precambrian era between 600 and 550 million years ago. The suture zone is to the west of the Adrar des Ifoghas mountains. [26]
The underlying rocks of the West African craton are covered in the northwest by sediments of the Taoudeni basin, with two main outcrops of crystalline rocks in the northern Reguibat shield in Mauritania and the southern Leo shield which includes the Bougouni and Kenieba outcrops, both of which contain valuable minerals. [26] There may also be petroleum reserves in the Taoudeni basin. [27]
Mali shares a total of 7,243 kilometers (4,500 miles) of land boundaries with seven bordering states:
North and northeast: Algeria- 1,376 km/855 mi
East: Niger- 821 km/510 mi
Southeast: Burkina Faso- 1,000 km/621 mi
South: Ivory Coast- 532 km/330 mi
Southwest: Guinea- 858 km/533 mi
West: Senegal and Mauritania- 419 km/260 mi and 2,237 km/1,390 mi (respectively)
Mali is endowed with bauxite, copper, diamonds, gold, Granite, gypsum, iron ore, kaolin, limestone, lithium, manganese, phosphates, salt, silver, uranium, and zinc. Not all deposits are being exploited, and some may not be commercially viable. Mali also has ample hydropower.
65% of Mali's land area is desert or semi-desert. According to estimates in 2011, only 5.63% of Mali's area can be classified as arable land, and 0.1% was planted to permanent crops. Mali was estimated to have 2,358 km2 of irrigated land in 2003. Mali has 100 cubic kilometers of total renewable water resources as off 2011 estimates. [1]
Mali faces numerous environmental challenges, including desertification, deforestation, soil erosion, drought, and inadequate supplies of potable water. Deforestation is an especially serious and growing problem. According to the Ministry of the Environment, Mali's population consumes 6 million tons of wood per year for timber and fuel. To meet this demand, 400,000 hectares of tree cover are lost annually, virtually ensuring destruction of the country's savanna woodlands. [1]
Mali is a party to international treaties on Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, and Whaling. It has signed, but not ratified the selected agreements.
Natural hazards in Mali include:
This is a list of the extreme points of Mali, the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location.
Burkina Faso is a landlocked Sahel country that shares borders with six nations. It lies between the Sahara desert and the Gulf of Guinea, south of the loop of the Niger River, mostly between latitudes 9° and 15°N, and longitudes 6°W and 3°E. The land is green in the south, with forests and fruit trees, and semi-arid in the north. Most of central Burkina Faso lies on a savanna plateau, 198–305 metres (650–1,001 ft) above sea level, with fields, brush, and scattered trees. Burkina Faso's game preserves – the most important of which are Arly, Nazinga, and W National Park—contain lions, elephants, hippopotamus, monkeys, common warthogs, and antelopes. Previously the endangered painted hunting dog, Lycaon pictus occurred in Burkina Faso, but, although the last sightings were made in Arli National Park, the species is considered extirpated from Burkina Faso.
Morocco is the northwesternmost country which spans from the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean on the north and the west respectively, into large mountainous areas in the interior, to the Sahara desert in the far south. Morocco is a Northern African country, located in the extreme northwest of Africa on the edge of continental Europe. The Strait of Gibraltar separates Spain from Morocco with a 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) span of water. Morocco borders the North Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the western Mediterranean Sea to the north, and has borders with Algeria and disputed Western Sahara.
Nigeria is a country in West Africa. It shares land borders with the Republic of Benin to the west, Chad and Cameroon to the east, and Niger to the north. Its coast lies on the Gulf of Guinea in the south and it borders Lake Chad to the northeast. Notable geographical features in Nigeria include the Adamawa Plateau, Mambilla Plateau, Jos Plateau, Obudu Plateau, the Niger River, Benue River, and Niger Delta.
Togo is a small Sub-Saharan state, comprising a long strip of land in West Africa. Togo's geographic coordinates are a latitude of 8° north and a longitude of 1°10′ east. It is bordered by three countries: Benin to the east, with 644 km (400 mi) of border; Burkina Faso to the north, with 126 km (78 mi) of border; and Ghana, with 877 km (545 mi) of border. To the south Togo has 56 km (35 mi) of coastline along the Bight of Benin of the Gulf of Guinea in the North Atlantic Ocean. Togo stretches 579 km (360 mi) north from the Gulf and is only 160 km (99 mi) wide at the broadest point. In total, Togo has an area of 56,785 km2 (21,925 sq mi), of which 54,385 km2 (20,998 sq mi) is land and 2,400 km2 (927 sq mi) is water.
Western Sahara is a territory in Northern Africa, bordered by the North Atlantic Ocean, Morocco proper, Algeria, and Mauritania. Geographic coordinates: 24°30′N13°00′W
Algeria comprises 2,381,740 square kilometres (919,590 sq mi) of land, more than 80% of which is desert, in North Africa, between Morocco and Tunisia. It is the largest country in Africa. Its Arabic name, Al Jazair, is believed to derive from the rocky islands along the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. The northern portion, an area of mountains, valleys, and plateaus between the Mediterranean and the Sahara Desert, forms an integral part of the section of North Africa known as the Maghreb. This area includes Morocco, Tunisia, and the northwestern portion of Libya known historically as Tripolitania.
Tunisia is a country in Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, having a western border with Algeria (965 km) and south-eastern border with Libya (459 km) where the width of land tapers to the south-west into the Sahara. The country has north, east and complex east-to-north coasts including the curved Gulf of Gabès, which forms the western part of Africa's Gulf of Sidra. Most of this greater gulf forms the main coast of Libya including the city of Sirte which shares its root name. The country's geographic coordinates are 34°00′N9°00′E. Tunisia occupies an area of 163,610 square kilometres, of which 8,250 are water. The principal and reliable rivers rise in the north of the country with a few notable exceptions from north-east Algeria and flow through the northern plain where sufficient rainfall supports diverse plant cover and irrigated agriculture.
Mauritania, a country in the Western Region of the continent of Africa, is generally flat, its 1,030,700 square kilometres forming vast, arid plains broken by occasional ridges and clifflike outcroppings. Mauritania is the world’s largest country lying entirely below an altitude of 1,000 metres (3,300 ft). It borders the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara, Mali and Algeria. It is considered part of both the Sahel and the Maghreb. A series of scarps face southwest, longitudinally bisecting these plains in the center of the country. The scarps also separate a series of sandstone plateaus, the highest of which is the Adrar Plateau, reaching an elevation of 500 metres or 1,640 feet. Spring-fed oases lie at the foot of some of the scarps. Isolated peaks, often rich in minerals, rise above the plateaus; the smaller peaks are called Guelbs and the larger ones Kedias. The concentric Guelb er Richat is a prominent feature of the north-central region. Kediet ej Jill, near the city of Zouîrât, has an elevation of 915 metres or 3,002 feet and is the highest peak.
Benin, a narrow, key-shaped, north–south strip of land in West Africa, lies between the Equator and the Tropic of Cancer. Its latitude ranges from 6°30′ N to 12°30′ N and its longitude from 1° E to 3°40′ E. It is bounded by Togo to the west, Burkina Faso and Niger to the north, Nigeria to the east, and the Bight of Benin to the south.
Mopti is a town and an urban commune in the Inner Niger Delta region of Mali. The town is the capital of the Mopti Cercle and the Mopti Region. Situated 630 km northeast of Bamako, the town lies at the confluence of the Niger and the Bani Rivers and is linked by an elevated causeway to the town of Sévaré. The urban commune, which includes both Mopti and Sévaré, had a population of 114,296 in the 2009 census.
Sikasso is a city in the south of Mali and the capital of the Sikasso Cercle and the Sikasso Region. It is Mali's second largest city with 225,753 residents in the 2009 census.
Araouane or Arawan is a small village in the Malian part of the Sahara Desert, lying 243 km (151 mi) north of Timbuktu on the caravan route to the salt-mining centre of Taoudenni. The village once served as an entrepôt in the trans-Saharan trade.
The East Sudanian savanna is a hot, seasonally dry tropical savanna ecoregion of Central and East Africa.
The climate of Romania is continental, transitioning into humid subtropical on the eastern coast, influenced by polar intrusions, and therefore characterized by harsh winters. The mountain ranges of the Carpathian arc have a cool mountain climate with high humidity throughout the year.
Rivadavia is a town in eastern Salta Province, Argentina in the Department of Rivadavia, 87 kilometres (54 mi) from the city of Salta. It is in a low-lying region of the province.
The climate of Paraguay consists of a subtropical climate in the Paranaense region and a tropical climate in the Chaco. The Paranaense region has a humid climate, with abundant rainfall throughout the year and only moderate seasonal changes in temperature.
The West Sudanian savanna is a tropical savanna ecoregion that extends across West Africa.