Surrounded by barren plateaus and vast deserts on all sides, the towering Aïr Mountains of northern Niger are an ecological, geographical, and cultural island in the Sahara. The numerous oases in the mountains are home to the traditionally nomadic Tuareg people, while other areas consist entirely of volcanic protrusions. The region is known for the ancient rock art left there by early inhabitants and is rich in uranium deposits. What unusual natural phenomenon struck the Aïr Mountains in 2004? Discuss