The Niger River is a relatively clear river, carrying only a tenth as much sediment as the Nile because the Niger's headwaters lie in ancient rocks that provide little silt. Like the Nile, the Niger floods yearly; this begins in September, peaks in November, and finishes by May. An unusual feature of the river is the Inner Niger Delta, which forms where its gradient suddenly decreases. The result is a region of braided streams, marshes, and large lakes; the seasonal floods make the Delta extremely productive for both fishing and agriculture. thumb|Boy bringing back his canoe on the Niger River (2022) The river loses nearly two-thirds of its potential flow in the Inner Delta between Ségou and Timbuktu to seepage and evaporation. The water from the Bani River, which flows into the Delta at Mopti, does not compensate for the losses. The average loss is estimated at 31 km3/year but varies considerably between years. The river is then joined by various tributaries but also loses more water to evaporation. The quantity of water entering Nigeria was estimated at 25 km3/year before the 1980s and at 13.5 km3/year during the 1980s.
the niger river is a relatively clear river carrying only a tenth as much sediment as the nile because the niger's headwaters lie in ancient rocks that provide little silt like the nile the niger floods yearly; this begins in september peaks in november and finishes by may an unusual feature of the river is the inner niger delta which forms where its gradient suddenly decreases the result is a region of braided streams marshes and large lakes; the seasonal floods make the delta extremely productive for both fishing and agriculture thumb|boy bringing back his canoe on the niger river (2022) the river loses nearly two-thirds of its potential flow in the inner delta between ségou and timbuktu to seepage and evaporation the water from the bani river which flows into the delta at mopti does not compensate for the losses the average loss is estimated at 31 km3/year but varies considerably between years the river is then joined by various tributaries but also loses more water to evaporation the quantity of water entering nigeria was estimated at 25 km3/year before the 1980s and at 135 km3/year during the 1980s