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Mali land and water resources are important aspects of the geographical conditions prevailing in Mali. The landscape of Mali is dominated by broken plains and rocky hills. Mali is situated at the top of a plateau. The overall topography of Mali is flat in nature. Among the water resources of Mali, the River Niger serves as the main source of water.
Mali's southern regions comprise of the Fouta Djallon highlands, Hombori Mountains and the Bandiagara pleateau. The Mandingue and Bambouk Mountains are separated by the sandy lowlands located north of the Niger River and it forms a natural arc across Mali. The northern part of the country is a part of the Sahara desert. The western part of the country is a semi arid zone that stretches across the Sahara and Savanna areas.
The tropical climate of Mali supports the growth of plants such as Mimosa and gum trees while the central region, which is dry and sandy, is full of thorny shrubs and plants. Some part of the arable land is cultivated for crops like rice, maize and wheat while the rest is used for growing coffee plants, nut trees, fruit trees and vines.
The River Niger flowing through Mali for over 1000 miles is a major source of water for the people of Mali providing them irrigation facilities in abundance. Most of the population earns a living through farming and fishing and this has turned Mali into a predominantly agricultural country. The River Niger is also important for transportation of goods.
Mali, in recent times, has been suffering from recurrent drought conditions. Deforestation, which takes place at the rate of 1% per year, is one of the major reasons behind the occurrence of floods. Apart from the drought problem, Mali also faces the problem of water pollution. Many rivers and wells in Mali are infected with bacteria. The government of Mali is taking various steps to purify the waters of the rivers in order to provide the people with clean drinking water.
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