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 Gambia is situated on the West
Coast of Africa and has Senegal as its neighbour in the North,
South and East. The Atlantic flanks it in on the West.
The topography revolves around the Gambia River, the
main waterway which has its origin in the Futa Jallon in Guinea and
which meanders along 1000 miles to join the sea. The river runs its
final 300 miles through Gambia and at Banjul, it is at its narrowest of
3 miles. Just near the sea at 100 miles, mangroves line the swamps on
either side slowly revealing open terrain and red ironstone cliffs. The
riparian vegetation is mainly savanna with drainage channels shaded by
the woods.
Gambia got
its independence from Britain in 1960. A
military coup overthrew the democratic government in 1994 but
subsequently in 1997, the country returned to civilian rule.
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Capital: Banjul
Area: 11 300 km²
Population: 1 141 000
Currency: 1 US$ = 10.6 Dalasi
GDP: 160/939$
HDI : 165/281
Languages: English, Wolof, Malinke, Fulani, Mandika
Ethnic groups: Mandigo 42%, Fulani 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%
Religions: Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, Animist 1%
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