Ténéré, a vast region within the Sahara. It makes up most of the Republic of Niger and stretches into southeastern Algeria and northwestern Chad, bounded by the Ahaggar and Aïr mountains and the Djado Plateau. Flat, wind-eroded land and sand-filled depressions are the chief landmarks. The Ténéré is extremely arid; most of the scanty rainfall evaporates immediately. There is virtually no vegetation or animal life. Caravan routes cross the Ténéré, connecting oases such as Bilma and Agadem.