The South Saharan steppe and woodlands ecoregion is a narrow band running east and west between the hyper-arid Sahara and the Sahel savannas to the south. Movements of the equatorial Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) bring summer rains during July and August which average 100 to 200 mm (3.9 to 7.9 in) but vary greatly from year to year. These rains sustain summer pastures of grasses and herbs, with dry woodlands and shrublands along seasonal watercourses. This ecoregion covers 1,101,700 km2 (425,400 mi2) in Algeria, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Sudan. COUNT 4
QSN1 Which directions does the South Saharan run? ANS1 east and west QSN2 What months do the summer rains happen? ANS2 July and August QSN3 What is the average rainfall between the months of July and   August? ANS3 100 to 200 mm QSN4 How much land does the ecoregion cover? ANS4 1,101,700 km2 (425,400 mi2)