Geography |
The Republic of the Gambia, located on the western coast of Africa, extends inland along the river of same name. It runs in an east-west direction at an average latitude 13' 30 N, cutting across Senegal for over 330 km, but is only about 50 km wide at its widest point. The country covers a total area of 11 295 km2. It is very level with an altitude not exceeding 50 m.
The river and seacoast are lined with mangrove swamps. Further inland, the land is seasonally flooded by the river. Sandy plateaus extend along the sides of the river to the borders with Senegal.
Average annual rainfall ranges between 900 and 1 100 mm except in the south-western part (western division and Banjul and Kambo districts) where it can reach 1 400 mm in some localities. There is one single intense wet season of five months (June-October) juxtaposed with a seven-month hot, dry season.
The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.