Gao

Gao Region lies in eastern Mali along the Niger River, centred on the historic city of Gao, the former capital of the Songhai Empire. The region spans Sahel and Sahara landscapes, with the Niger River providing a fertile corridor for agriculture and fishing. The Tomb of Askia in Gao city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the region's most significant historical monument.

The dry season, roughly November to February, brings the coolest, clearest conditions in the region, with daytime highs around 28–33°C. March to May is the hot season, with temperatures often exceeding 40°C and dust-laden harmattan winds persisting into early March. June is typically the hottest month, and July–September brings the Sahel's brief rainy season, when roads outside Gao town can become impassable and flooding along the Niger is possible.

• Gao — Historic Songhai capital on the Niger River
• Bourem — Niger River town, on the road toward Timbuktu
• Ansongo — Niger River town south of Gao
• Bamba — Niger River commune in Bourem Cercle
• N'Tillit — Rural commune in Gao Cercle
• Ouattagouna — Commune in Ansongo Cercle, on the Niger River
• Taboye — Commune in Gao Region