Chad , CoroToro

Korotoro, Chad: A Mining Town on the Southern Rim of the Sahara Desert

Located in the northwestern part of the central African country of Chad, Korotoro is the capital of the Tibesti region and is situated in the arid zone on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert. At an altitude of about 500 meters above sea level and about 600 kilometers from the capital N'Djamena, the city is an important administrative and commercial center in northern Chad.

Economic pillars and resource characteristics

Korotoro is known for its natural alkali (soda ash) mining, and possesses important mineral resources in Chad. the discovery of natural alkali mines in the 1970s has made the city a centerpiece of the Chadian mining industry, with the product being used mainly in glass manufacturing and as a chemical raw material. The local economy also relies on traditional animal husbandry and camel caravan trade.

Natural landscape and climatic characteristics

Korotoro has a typical tropical desert climate, with very little annual precipitation and large temperature differences between day and night. The surrounding landscape is dominated by rocky deserts and dry river valleys, with the extended hills of the Tibesti mountain range nearby, forming a unique landscape on the edge of the Sahara. Spectacular desert starry skies can be seen during the dry season.

Culture and Transportation

The inhabitants are predominantly nomadic, including the Toubou, and retain traditional desert living practices. Due to its remoteness and the complex security situation, tourism is limited in Korotoro, which is mainly connected by road to the northern cities of Faya-Lajo and is not served by regular civilian flights.