Sahel region
| Sahel | |
|---|---|
| Region | |
 |
|
 Location in Burkina Faso |
|
| Coordinates: 14°15′N 00°45′W / 14.250°N 0.750°WCoordinates: 14°15′N 00°45′W / 14.250°N 0.750°W | |
| Country |
 Burkina Faso
|
| Capital | Dori |
| Area | |
| • Total | 35,360 km2 (13,650 sq mi) |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Total | 968,442 |
| • Density | 27/km2 (71/sq mi) |
| Time zone | GMT 0 (UTC+0) |
Sahel is one of Burkina Faso's 13 administrative regions. It was created on 2 July 2001. The region's capital is Dori. Four provinces make up the region - Oudalan, Séno, Soum, and Yagha.
As of 2010, the population of the region was 1,086,250 with 50.30 per cent females. The population in the region was 6.91 per cent of the total population of the country. The child mortality rate was 132, infant mortality rate was 119 and the mortality of children under five was 235. The coverage of cereal need compared to the total production of the region was 81.00 per cent. As of 2007, the literacy rate in the region was 18 per cent, compared to a national average of 28.3 per cent.
Most of Burkino Faso is a wide plateau formed by riverine systems and is called falaise de Banfora. There are three major rivers, the Red Volta, Black Volta and White Volta, which cuts through different valleys. The climate is generally hot, with unreliable rains across different seasons. Gold and quartz are common minerals found across the country, while manganese deposits are also common. The dry season is usually from October to May and rains are common during the wet season from June to September. The soil texture is porous and hence the yield is also poor. The average elevation is around 200 m (660 ft) to 300 m (980 ft) above mean sea level. Among West African countries, Burkino Faso has the largest elephant population and the country is replete with game reserves. The northern regions are generally arid and usually have scrub land and semi-deserts. The principal river is the Red Volta, that originates in the northern region and drains into Ghana. The areas near the rivers usually have flies like tsete and similium, which are carriers of sleep sickness and river blindness. The average rainfall in the region is around 25 cm (9.8 in) compared to southern regions that receive only 100 cm (39 in) rainfall.
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Wikipedia