Geography of the Gambia
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Ga-map.png
Map of The Gambia
The Gambia is a very small and narrow country with the border based on the Gambia River. The border is less than 48km wide. The countries present boundaries were defined in 1889 after an agreement between the United Kingdom and France. It is almost an enclave of Senegal and smallest country on the continent of Africa.
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Geographic coordinates: Template:Coor dm
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 11,300 kmē
land: 10,000 kmē
water: 1,300 kmē
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
continental shelf: not specified
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nautical miles
territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
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 kmē (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