FACT FILE

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 territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: not specified exclusive fishing zone: 200 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% permanent crops: 1% 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
Geography - note:	almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa