Gambia, The Geography Profile 2009

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Geographic coordinates

13 28 N, 16 34 W

Map references

Africa

Area

total: 11,295 sq km
land: 10,000 sq km
water: 1,295 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
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: extent not specified

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, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon, silica sand, clay, petroleum

Land use

arable land: 27.88%
permanent crops: 0.44%
other: 71.68% (2005)

Irrigated land

20 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources

8 cu km (1982)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.03 cu km/yr (23%/12%/65%)
per capita: 20 cu m/yr (2000)

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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

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