Geography of The Gambia
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Geographic coordinates:
13 28 N, 16 34 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries:
Coastline:
80 km
Maritime claims:
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:
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
Irrigated land:
150 sq km (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:
Geography - note:
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa
total:
11,300 sq km
land:
10,000 sq km
water:
1,300 sq km
total:
740 km
border countries:
Senegal 740 km
contiguous zone:
18 nm
continental shelf:
not specified
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:
unnamed location 53 m
arable land:
18%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
9%
forests and woodland:
28%
other:
45% (1993 est.)
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