Agadez is one of the main historical cities of Niger, West Africa. For those who don't know, the city is also known as the "Gateway to the Desert". However, today this iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site is on the verge of collapse due to unprecedented flooding.

Niger, a beautiful African country located on the edge of the Sahara Desert, usually experiences dry and arid conditions. But this year the country is facing devastating rains that threaten the existence of this once thriving tourist destination.

More about Agadez

Agadez is a historic city that attracts visitors from all over the world. This place is famous for its winding alleys, mud houses and the 16th-century Grand Mosque. This place has received UNESCO World Heritage status as it is culturally very rich. But the city faces heavy rains and swollen rivers have nearly devastated the region.

The city is located about 1,000 km northeast of Niger's capital, Niamey. The city was once the center of the trans-Saharan caravan trade route. It was an important cultural center for the Tuareg as its historical significance was quite great.

Top Places to Visit in Agadez

Some of the top attractions in Agadez include the Sultan's Palace , built in the 15th century. This is the same palace where the famous German explorer Heinrich Barth stayed in 1850. Agadez has always been a popular tourist destination in the past.

Heavy rains

Heavy rains have reportedly killed nearly 270 people. Agadez does not receive this amount of rainfall every year. But during this monsoon the rains became regular. The city's former mayor, Abdurahaman Turawa, called the rains "particularly aggressive" and causing significant damage to the old city.

Heavy rainfall led to the collapse of many houses and flooding of streets. Even the famous Great Mosque, with its towering 27-meter mud brick minaret, was not spared destruction.

Today, climate change and flooding pose an existential threat to the city. According to Ali Salifou, curator of Agadez, about a hundred houses and walls in the old city have already collapsed. Fragile city architecture created from clay bricks and clay, is particularly vulnerable to heavy rainfall, making conservation of this historic site more challenging than ever.

Source: timesofindia

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