Niger operates on West Africa Time (WAT), which is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+1). The country does not observe daylight saving time, so the offset remains constant throughout the year.
All of Niger follows the same timezone despite being one of the largest countries in West Africa. Major cities including Niamey, Zinder, Maradi, and Agadez all observe WAT. Niamey, the capital and largest city, is located on the banks of the Niger River.
Niger is named after the Niger River, which means "River of Rivers" in the Tuareg language. The country is home to the ancient city of Agadez, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and historic center of Tuareg culture. Over 80% of Niger is covered by the Sahara Desert, making it one of the hottest countries in the world.