Inland Delta of the Niger River, Mali
The Inland Delta of the Niger River, classified as a Ramsar wetland of international importance in 2004, supports agriculture and biodiversity in Mali. At the northern edge of the delta in Mali, near the Sahara Desert, persistent wind patterns have shaped long, parallel sand dune ridges. These elevated dunes remain exposed even during peak flooding, while the lower-lying interdune areas fill with water. This interaction creates striking, uniformly oriented patterns of lakes and channels that are clearly visible from space.
This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, acquired on 10 October 2025, shows part of the Inland Delta, where parallel dune formations stand out in the north amid the flooded interdune plains. Large expanses of vegetation can be seen in the floodplains to the south.
Copernicus free and open data plays an important role in monitoring dynamic global wetlands and provides essential information to support environmental protection and conservation efforts.
