Covering an area of over 250 km² the metropolitan area
sits atop two plateaus reaching 218 m in altitude, bisected by the Niger River. At Niamey, the river,
running almost straight SSE from Gao,
makes a series of wide bends. The city was founded on the east ("left
bank") of the river as it meanders from a west to east flow to run almost
directly south. A series of marshy islands begin at Niamey and extend south in
