Time Zone |
Africa/Niamey |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+1 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
Time Zone |
Asia/Beirut |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+2 |
Daylight Saving Time |
UTC+3 |
Dirkou is a border town in southwestern Niger, on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert, bordering Nigeria, in the Tillabéry region. As Niger's main gateway into the Sahel region, it was once an important node on the ancient trans-Saharan trade route, and remains today a hub of land transportation connecting Niger to Nigeria. Surrounded by acacia bushes and semi-arid grasslands, the city enjoys a hot and dry climate, with average annual temperatures exceeding 30°C. The economy is mainly agro-pastoral. The local economy is dominated by agro-pastoralism, with the inhabitants mostly engaged in nomadic herding (camels, goats) and oasis agriculture (dates, millet). In recent years, the ecological pressure on Dirkou has gradually increased due to climate change and water stress, but its unique desert frontier culture and historical position still make it an important town in southwestern Niger.
Marjayoun is a border town in the Nabatiyeh Governorate in southern Lebanon, located near the Lebanese-Israeli borderline, about 80 kilometers from the capital Beirut. Historically, it was an important strategic location, and some of its historical sites are still visible today, including old churches and Ottoman-era buildings. The local economy is predominantly agricultural, producing grapes, olives, citrus and other crops, with grape cultivation being particularly well known and the grapes produced are used for winemaking and drying. The natural beauty of the area around Markeba, with its fertile plains and rolling hills, is an important agricultural area in southern Lebanon. Despite its location on the border, the local area still maintains the traditional Lebanese rural life atmosphere, the residents are friendly and warm, although the town is small, but carries the historical memory and cultural heritage of the southern region.