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Sahel
Biogeographical region in Africa / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Sahel region (/səˈhɛl/; from Arabic ساحل (sāḥil [ˈsaːħil]) 'coast, shore') or Sahelian acacia savanna is a biogeographical region in Africa. It is the transition zone between the more humid Sudanian savannas to its south and the drier Sahara to the north. The Sahel has a hot semi-arid climate and stretches across the southernmost latitudes of North Africa between the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea. Although geographically located in the tropics, the Sahel does not have a tropical climate.
Sahel | |
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Throughout the Sahel, rammed earth construction is widespread, as exemplified by this medieval mosque in Burkina Faso | |
The Sahel region in Africa: a belt up to 1,000 km (620 mi) wide that spans 5,400 km (3,360 mi) from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea | |
Ecology | |
Realm | Afrotropical |
Biome | Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands |
Borders | |
Animals | Camels, horses |
Bird species | Migratory birds |
Mammal species | Oryx, Gazelles, African buffalo |
Geography | |
Area | 3,053,200 km2 (1,178,800 sq mi) |
Countries | |
Elevation | 200 and 400 meters (660 and 1,310 ft) |
Rivers | Senegal, Niger, Nile |
Climate type | Tropical savanna climates (Aw), Hot Semi-arid (BSh), Hot Desert (BWh) |
Especially in the western Sahel, there are frequent shortages of food and water due to its very high government corruption and the semi-arid climate. This is exacerbated by very high birthrates across the region, resulting in a rapid increase in population. In recent times,[when?] various coups, insurgencies, terrorism[1] and foreign interventions have taken place in many Sahel countries, especially across former Françafrique.