This is the largest pro­tect­ed area in Africa, cov­er­ing some 7.7 mil­lion ha, though the area con­sid­ered a pro­tect­ed sanc­tu­ary con­sti­tutes only one-sixth of the total area. It includes the vol­canic rock mass of the Air, a small Sahe­lian pock­et, iso­lat­ed as regards its cli­mate and flo­ra and fau­na, and sit­u­at­ed in the Saha­ran desert of Tenere. The reserves boast an out­stand­ing vari­ety of land­scapes, plant species and wild ani­mals.