Geography of The Gambia

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The Gambia is a very small and narrow country with the border based on the Gambia River. The country is less than 48km wide at its greatest width. The country's present boundaries were defined in 1889 after an agreement between the United Kingdom and France. Apart from its coastline, where The Gambia borders the Atlantic Ocean, it is an enclave of Senegal and by far the smallest country on the continent of Africa.

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Geographic coordinates: 13°28′N 16°34′W

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 11,300 km²
land: 10,000 km²
water: 1,300 km²

Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Delaware, USA.

Land boundaries:
total: 740 km
border countries: Senegal 740 km

Coastline: 80 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 18 nautical miles (33 km)
continental shelf: not specified
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nautical miles (370 km)
territorial sea: 12 nautical miles (22 km)

Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)

Terrain: flood plain of the Gambia river flanked by some low hills

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 53 m

Natural resources: fish

Land use:
arable land: 18%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 9%
forests and woodland: 28%
other: 45% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 150 km² (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years

Environment - current issues: deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

[edit] See also

• The Gambia