Gambia, The

Gambia, The Geography

Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Geographic coordinates
13 28 N, 16 34 W

Area
total: 11,300 sq km
land: 10,000 sq km
water: 1,300 sq km

Area - comparative
slightly less than twice the size of Delaware

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

Coastline
80 km

Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: not specified
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

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: 25%
permanent crops: 0.5%
other: 74.5% (2001)

Irrigated land
20 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards
drought (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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa



- Info Provided by the CIA World Factbook -