Gambia, The Geography Profile 2002

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Geographic coordinates

13 28 N, 16 34 W

Map references

Africa

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

contiguous zone: 18 NM
continental shelf: not specified
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 19.5%
permanent crops: 0.5%
other: 80% (1998 est.)

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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Group

All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa

Geography - note

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