Niger is home to the Ténéré Desert, a central Sahara region known for its dunes. The Ténéré occupies northeastern Niger and forms part of the broader Sahara, extending toward neighboring areas around the Aïr Mountains and the Libyan border.
The name Ténéré comes from a Tuareg word meaning desert or wilderness. The landscape includes sand seas, gravel plains, rocky areas, and isolated routes between wells and settlements. It is therefore larger and more varied than the image of a single continuous dune field suggests.
The region was once known for the Tree of Ténéré, a solitary acacia that became famous as a landmark for travelers. The tree was struck and destroyed by a truck in 1973, and a metal sculpture now marks its former location.
The Ténéré is sometimes confused with the entire Sahara or with the nearby Aïr Mountains. It is a named subregion within the Sahara, while the Aïr is a separate mountain massif rising from the desert.