Bilma
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{{for|the Australian Aboriginal musical instrument known as Bilma in some areas|Clapsticks}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name =Bilma
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|settlement_type =Commune
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|image_map =Erg of bilma.png
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|pushpin_map = Niger
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|pushpin_mapsize =300
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{flag|Niger}}
|subdivision_type1 = Region
|subdivision_name1 = Agadez Region
|subdivision_type2 = Department
|subdivision_name2 = Bilma Department
|subdivision_type3 = Commune
|subdivision_name3 = Bilma
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|population_total = 4016
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|coordinates = {{coord|18|41|12|N|12|55|09|E|region:NE|display=inline}}
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|elevation_m = 358
|elevation_ft = 1175
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Bilma is an oasis town and commune in north east Niger with, as of the 2012 census, a total population of 4,016 people.{{cite web|url=http://www.stat-niger.org/statistique/file/Annuaires_Statistiques/Annuaire_ins_2011/population.pdf|title=Annuaires_Statistiques|publisher=Institut National de la Statistique du Niger|access-date=2 May 2013}}
It lies protected from the desert dunes under the Kaouar Cliffs and is the largest town along the Kaouar escarpment. It is known for its gardens, for salt and natron production through evaporation ponds,{{cite book |first=Paul E. |last=Lovejoy |title=Salt of the Desert Sun: A History of Salt Production and Trade in the Central Sudan |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1986 |isbn=0-521-30182-3 }} date cultivation, and as the destination of one of the last Saharan caravan routes (the Azalai, from Agadez).
Population
Its population is mostly Kanuri, with smaller Toubou, Tuareg, and Hausa populations, the last being a reminder of Bilma's role as a key stop in the Trans Saharan trade.
Administration and economy
Bilma is the administrative seat of the Bilma Department, covering some {{convert|260000|sqmi|km2|abbr=on|order=flip}} of north eastern Niger. While it continues to produce salt in large natron salt pans, and this salt is still sold for livestock use throughout west Africa. Tourism (based out of Agadez and the Aïr Mountains some {{convert|350|mi|km|abbr=on|order=flip}} to the west) is of growing importance.
Climate
Bilma features a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh). The town lies deep in the heart of the Sahara Desert, more precisely in the Ténéré, a hyper-arid desert region lying over northeastern Niger and western Chad, and as such is extremely dry, averaging only {{convert|12.7|mm|in|abbr=on}} of measurable precipitation annually. Bilma is also hot during the "winter" months and extremely hot during the summer months and for prolonged periods of time. Average high temperatures in "winter" months surpass {{convert|27|C|F}}, and exceed {{convert|40|C|F}} from April to September inclusively, peaking at {{convert|44|C|F}} in June. The record high temperature is {{convert|48.2|C|1}} on June 23, 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=1544 |title=Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog |author= |date=July 16, 2010 |publisher=Wayback Machine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100719104107/http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=1544 |access-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-date=19 July 2010 }}
Bilma had the country's lowest ever recorded temperature, −2.4 °C (27.7 °F), on 13 January 1995.{{cite web |url=https://unfccc.int/files/national_reports/non-annex_i_natcom/submitted_natcom/application/pdf/nernc3.pdf |title=Troisieme Communication Nationale A La Conference Des Parties De La Conventioncadre Des Nations Unies Sur Les Changements Climatiques |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506213909/https://unfccc.int/files/national_reports/non-annex_i_natcom/submitted_natcom/application/pdf/nernc3.pdf |access-date=2020-07-25|archive-date=6 May 2018 }}{{cite web |url=https://geographic.org/global_weather/weather_data_2.php?month=01&year=1995&id=610170-99999&path=weather_stations/594560_649609/610170-99999.txt&name=Bilma&country=Niger |title=Weather data: Niger, Bilma, 1995, January
|work=Historical Global Weather |author=Geographic.org |access-date=2020-07-25}}
The sunshine duration is extremely high year-round with some 4,000 hours of bright sunshine annually. The region excels at hot, sunny and dry weather.
{{Weather box
|location = Bilma, Niger (2006–2010)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = yes
|Jan high C = 27.7
|Feb high C = 31.9
|Mar high C = 35.3
|Apr high C = 40.6
|May high C = 42.9
|Jun high C = 44.1
|Jul high C = 43.0
|Aug high C = 42.1
|Sep high C = 41.8
|Oct high C = 39.1
|Nov high C = 33.1
|Dec high C = 28.7
|year high C =
|Jan mean C = 18.2
|Feb mean C = 21.7
|Mar mean C = 24.9
|Apr mean C = 30.4
|May mean C = 33.5
|Jun mean C = 34.7
|Jul mean C = 34.3
|Aug mean C = 34.4
|Sep mean C = 32.7
|Oct mean C = 29.3
|Nov mean C = 22.7
|Dec mean C = 18.5
|year mean C =
|Jan low C = 8.7
|Feb low C = 11.4
|Mar low C = 14.5
|Apr low C = 20.1
|May low C = 24.1
|Jun low C = 25.3
|Jul low C = 25.5
|Aug low C = 26.6
|Sep low C = 23.6
|Oct low C = 19.5
|Nov low C = 12.2
|Dec low C = 8.3
|year low C =
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.00
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.00
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.00
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.00
|May precipitation inch = 0.00
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.00
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.10
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.30
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.10
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.00
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.00
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.00
|year precipitation inch = 0.50
|date=April 2012
}}
History
The poet Abu Ishaq Ibrahim al-Kanemi was born in Bilma in the 12th century.
During French Colonial rule, Bilma was the site of a major—if isolated—military post at Fort Dromard. After independence, the isolation of Bilma made it the destination for disgraced officials under the authoritarian regime of Seyni Kountché, and a prison was built there by the government. Political leaders were held there in the 1980s, such as Sanoussi Tambari Djakou, today president of the PNA-AL, a Nigerien political party.
In 1989, UTA Flight 772 crashed into the desert near the town after a bomb exploded on board, killing all 170 people aboard.
References
{{reflist}}
Sources
- {{cite EB1911|wstitle=Bilma|volume=3}}
- {{cite book |first=Samuel |last=Decalo |title=Historical Dictionary of Niger |url=https://archive.org/details/historicaldictio0000deca_w7m6 |url-access=registration |publisher=Scarecrow Press |location=London and New Jersey |year=1979 |isbn=0-8108-1229-0 }}
- {{cite book |first=Jolijn |last=Geels |title=Niger |publisher=Bradt |location=London |year=2006 |isbn=1-84162-152-8 }}
{{coord|18|41|N|12|55|E|type:city|display=title}}
{{Communes of Niger}}
{{Authority control}}