Mali
Sand Origin
Abdramane Mali, By Niger river sout of Bamako, close to Kabala University
Random Sand Fact
In Mali, people dive into the Niger River to collect sand by hand.
Around Bamako, sand divers work from small boats on the river. They descend to the riverbed with a bucket, fill it with sand and have it hauled back to the boat.
In some places, they work at depths of up to 15–20 metres.
Boat after boat is filled with sand and taken back towards Bamako, where it is used for mortar, bricks and other construction.
Millions of cubic metres are taken from the river each year. One of the capital’s essential building materials begins with a person, a bucket and sand on the riverbed.
