Northern Region (Ghana)
The Northern Region is located in North Ghana. It is the largest of ten regions coverings an area of 70,384 square kilometers or 31 percent of Ghana's area . Northern Region is divided into 26 districts. The Northern Region's capital is Tamale.
Geography and climate
Location and size
The Northern Region is precisely located in the Kingdom of Dagbon and the Northern region is bordered on the north by the Upper West region and the Upper East region, on the east by the eastern Ghana-Togo international border, on the south by the Black Volta River and the Volta region, and on the north-west by the Upper West region and Burkina Faso, and on the west by the western Ghana-Ivory Coast international border. Northern region is the largest region in total area, and is made up of 20 districts.
Climate and Vegetation
The Northern Region is much drier than southern areas of Ghana, due to its proximity to the Sahel, and the Sahara. The vegetation consists predominantly of grassland, especially savanna with clusters of drought-resistant trees such as baobabs or acacias. Between May and October is the wet season, with an average annual rainfall of 750 to 1050 mm (30 to 40 inches). The dry season is between about November and April. The highest temperatures are reached at the end of the dry season, the lowest in December and January. However, the hot Harmattan wind from the Sahara blows frequently between December and the beginning of February. The temperatures can vary between 14 °C (59 °F) at night and 40 °C (104 °F) during the day.