Bilma
Bilma is a desert oasis town and commune in Niger, located in the eastern part of the country within the Agadez Region. It serves as the administrative center of Bilma Department and sits in a palm-fringed oasis amid the central Sahara. The area is renowned for nearby salt flats and traditional salt mining that has supported the local economy for centuries.
The climate is extreme desert, with very high daytime temperatures and scarce annual rainfall. The oasis supports
Historically, Bilma has been a key node on the trans-Saharan salt trade. Salt from local evaporite beds
Today, salt mining remains an important traditional activity, complemented by oasis agriculture and small-scale trade. The
Access to Bilma is primarily overland via rough desert routes from regional hubs, reflecting Niger’s challenging