Term
The term was first used as a phyto-geographical term, referring to the band of land between 75 and 450 isohyets (bands of precipitation). Subsequent researchers have referred to a wide range of isohyets in determining the location of the Sahel. It has also been used to refer to the countries of West Africa.
[edit]
Geography
The Sahel is primarily savanna and runs from the Atlantic Ocean to the Horn of Africa, changing from semi-arid grasslands to thorn savanna. Over the history of Africa the region has been home to some of the most advanced kingdoms benefiting from trade across the desert. Collectively these states are known as the Sahelian kingdoms.
The countries of the Sahel today include Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, and Somalia.
A map of the region can be viewed here.
[edit]
Environment
About 12,500 years ago, the Sahel was a part of the Saharan desert, and was covered in sand dunes which......
Join Now or Login to view the rest of this paper.
Approximate Word Count: 464
Approximate Pages: 2 (260 words per double-spaced page) |