The Gambia is located in Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal.
Gambia has borders with Senegal for 740km.
Land in The Gambia is flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills.
Gambian land covers an area of 11300 square kilometers which is slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
As for the Gambian climate; tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May).
Gambian(s) speak English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars.
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Banjul Central River Gambia, The (general) Lower River | North Bank Upper River Western |
The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965; it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia with Senegal between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty. A military coup in 1994 overthrew the president and banned political activity, but a 1996 constitution and presidential elections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. The country undertook another round of presidential and legislative elections in late 2001 and early 2002. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH, the leader of the coup, has been elected president in all subsequent elections.
The Gambia has no significant mineral or natural resource deposits and has a limited agricultural base. About 75% of the population depends on crops and livestock for its livelihood. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides. Reexport trade normally constitutes a major segment of economic activity, but a 1999 government-imposed preshipment inspection plan, and instability of the Gambian dalasi (currency) have drawn some of the reexport trade away from The Gambia. The government's 1998 seizure of the private peanut firm Alimenta eliminated the largest purchaser of Gambian groundnuts. Despite an announced program to begin privatizing key parastatals, no plans have been made public that would indicate that the government intends to follow through on its promises. Unemployment and underemployment rates remain extremely high; short-run economic progress depends on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on responsible government economic management, on continued technical assistance from the IMF and bilateral donors, and on expected growth in the construction sector.
Gambian natural resources include fish, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon, silica sand, clay, petroleum
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa
Gambian religion is Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%.
Natural hazards in The Gambia include drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years).