|
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:
|
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: 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
|
|
Land use:
|
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0.5%
other: 74.5% (2001)
|
|
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, 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
|
