Mali

Mali is a country in West Africa with 12 million inhabitants. Neighboring countries are Guinea, Senegal, Mauritania, Algeria, Niger, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast. The republic still has access to the sea through the ports of Dakar and Abidjan. Mali consists of 70% desert or semi-desert areas. Northern is the Sahara, with some wadis and some vegetation. In the south there are swamps and steppe areas, with forests along the banks of the Senegal, Niger and Bani rivers. Sandstone mountains in the southwest. Central is the large African stream and the Sahel. The Manding Highlands are in the west and the Adrar des Iforhas mountains in the east. There is a steppe climate with a rainy season. Only in the north does a dry desert climate prevail. The capital Bamako has 950,000 inhabitants. Sights are the national museum, the zoo, the home of the craft and the Viewpoint plateau. Other cities are Araouane, Bafoulabé, Bla, Djenné, Essakane, Fana, Gao, Kidal, Kolokani, Koulikoro and Mopti. On the UNESCO World Heritage List are the historic center of Djenné, Timbuktu, the tomb of Askia and the Valley of Dogon. Other sights include the Venice of Mali, Mopti, the Dogon villages of Tireli, Banani, Amani and Irelli, the Koulikoro region and the cities of Djenné, Gao and Segou.