How does the Niger Bend shape the course of the Niger River in Mali?

The Niger Bend significantly alters the trajectory of the Niger River as it flows through Mali. After traversing the country in a northeasterly direction and passing through an "internal delta" of lakes and backwaters near Mopti, the river reaches the port of Timbuktu and turns almost due east.12

At the town of Bourem, the river makes a dramatic turn to the southeast, a feature known as the Niger Bend. This bend marks the river's most northerly point—reaching latitude 17°05′ N—as it flows through the southern fringe of the Sahara. Following this turn, the river flows past Gao and Ansongo before exiting Mali at Labbezanga. This shift in direction is notable for its passage through a rocky ridge, where the river is forced through a narrow gorge, and for its role in defining the river's middle course across the arid landscape.21