Geography of the Gambia

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Map of the Gambia
Location of the Gambia (in circle)
Enlargeable, detailed map of the Gambia
Satellite image of The Gambia

smallest
country on mainland Africa.

Terrain

The grassy flood plain of the Gambia river contains Guinean mangroves near the coast, and becomes West Sudanian savanna upriver inland.

Statistics

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

Geographic coordinates: 13°28′N 16°34′W / 13.467°N 16.567°W / 13.467; -16.567

Area:
total: 11,295 km2
land: 10,000 km2
water: 1,295 km2

Land boundaries:
total: 749 km
border countries: Senegal 749 km

Coastline: 80 km

Maritime claims:

  • territorial sea: 12 nmi (22.2 km; 13.8 mi)
  • contiguous zone: 18 nmi (33.3 km; 20.7 mi)
  • exclusive fishing zone: 200 nmi (370.4 km; 230.2 mi)
  • continental shelf: extent not specified

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

Terrain: floodplain of the Gambia River, flanked by low hills

Elevation extremes:

Natural resources: fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon

Land use:
arable land: 43.48%
permanent crops: 0.49%
other: 56.03% (2011)

  • Irrigated land: 50 km2 (2011)
  • Total renewable water resources: 8 km3 (2011)
  • Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
    total: 0.09 km3/yr (41%/21%/39%)
    per capita: 65.77 m3/yr (2005)

Current issues: deforestation, desertification, prevalence of water-borne diseases, drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)

Environment - party to international agreements on:

Extreme points

This is a list of the extreme points of the Gambia, the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location.

  • Northernmost point – unnamed location on the border with Senegal immediately south of the Senegalese village of Keur Mali Makham, Central River Division
  • Easternmost point – unnamed point on the border with Senegal near the village of Sembagne, Upper River Division
  • Southernmost point – the point at which the border with Senegal enters the
    Western Division
  • Westernmost point -
    Western Division
  • Westernmost point (mainland) -
    Western Division

Gallery

  • Fishing boats in Bakau, Gambia
    Fishing boats in Bakau, Gambia
  • Children swimming near Lamin Lodge.
    Children swimming near Lamin Lodge.
  • The river.
    The river.
  • River bird
    River bird
  • A market.
    A market.
  • The Spotted hyena is part of the Gambian fauna.
    The Spotted hyena is part of the Gambian fauna.
  • Wild hippopotamus in the Gambia River.
    Wild hippopotamus in the Gambia River.

See also

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook.

CIA
.

Notes

  1. ^ Donald R. Wright (2004). The World and a Very Small Place: A History of Globalization in Niumi, The Gambia (New York: M.E. Sharp) p. 151–152.
  2. ^ Craig Emms and Linda Barnett (2001). Bradt Travel Guide for The Gambia (Chalford, UK: Bradt Travel Guides).
  3. ^ Global Environment Facility, United Nations Environment Programme (eds.): The Gambia’s Second National Communication under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change[permanent dead link]. Banjul, November 2012, p. 32.
  4. ^ The World Factbook: The Gambia. Chapter Geography and map.
  5. National Imagery and Mapping Agency
    . Map data from 1966.
  6. ^ "Gambia High Point". peakbagger.com..
  7. ^ Malanding S. Jaiteh, Baboucarr Sarr: Climate Change and Development in the Gambia: Challenges to Ecosystem Goods and Services, p. 1–3. Map based on: The Gambia 50,000 database 2003 topographic data. Department of Local Government and Lands.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Geography_of_the_Gambia&oldid=1219165335"