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2012-04-20T05:02:52Z

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The ''Sahel'' is the ecoclimatic and biogeographic zone of transition between the [[Sahara]] desert in the North and the Sudanian Savannas in the south. It stretches across the north of the African continent between the [[Atlantic Ocean]] and the [[Red Sea]].

The Arabic word sāḥil ساحل literally means "shore, coast", describing the appearance of the vegetation of the Sahel as a coastline delimiting the sand of the Sahara.

The Sahel covers most parts of the territory of (from west to east)
# [[Senegal]]
# southern [[Mauritania]]
# [[Mali]]
# [[Burkina Faso]]
# southern [[Algeria]]
# [[Niger]]
# northern [[Nigeria]]
# [[Chad]]
# northern [[Cameroon]]
# [[Sudan]] (including Darfur but not [[South Sudan]]), and
# [[Eritrea]]

== Details ==
(sourced from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahel)

The region is at risk of desertification. Over-farming, over-grazing, and over-population of marginal lands and natural soil erosion have caused serious desertification of the region.

Major dust storms are a frequent occurrence, as well. During November 2004, a number of major dust storms hit the Chad, Nigeria, and northern Cameroon, originating in the Bodélé Depression. This is a common area for dust storms (occurring, on average, 100 days every year).

iN August 2008, heavy dust storms passed over the eastern plains of Somalia and the northeast of a still drought-hit Kenya. In March 2010, a major sandstorm hit Mauritania, Senegal, the Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, and inland Sierra Leone. Another struck in southern Algeria, inland Mauritania, Mali, and northern Côte d’Ivoire at the same time.

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> [[Northern Africa]]
<br>
> [[Sub-Saharan Africa]]
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> [[Africa]]
<br>
>> [[Countries]]

[[Category:Africa| Sahel]]
[[Category:Sahel| ]]
[[Category:VISCED]]

Sahel - Revision history

Pbacsich: entry